Haptic and comfort of all different kinds of nonwoven products are quality parameters, which often influence purchase decisions of the consumer. With the emtec TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer, a test device is available, which objectively measures softness and roughness as well as the deformation, compressibility and recovery characteristics of base material and finished goods, such as diapers, femcare products or wipes. In combination, these individual parameters determine the comfort of a product, how well it feels, how well it wears and so on. By the help of special algorithms, it is possible to calculate a so-called hand feel value or value of comfort.
The test is done in two steps. In the first step, the roughness is measured by a sound analysis. In the second step, the softness as well as deformation and recovery are measured. Just like the roughness, also the softness is measaured by a sound analysis. Stiffness, elasticity, plasticity and hysteresis (deformation and recovery behavior) are measured by a deformation measurement.
The test results of the individual parameters help the R&D to develop products with special haptic charcateristics. They also help to optimize the production and to determine where possible quality issues comes from. The calculated hand feel value helps the QA to see whether the production quality stays within the defined specification. If the qulaity gets out of specification, the meaured values of the single parameters, which are available almost instantly - one test takes one and a half minute, five to eight tests are recommended to get reliable average values - help to find the reason.