Thickness Gauging of Waterproof Textiles using Fast THz-TDS

Thickness gauging of high-tech textiles and their coatings is challenging as fabrics are structured, flexible materials and coatings can penetrate the surfaces during application. We present terahertz thickness measurements of waterproof yet breathable textiles consisting of microporous polypropylene film laminated to polyester fabric. Fast measurements using a terahertz time-domain spectrometer based on electronically controlled optical sampling highlight the potential for non-destructive, contact-free inline quality control of textiles.