A new physical method to assess handle properties of fabrics made from wood-based fibers

M Abu-Rous,B Malengier,E Liftinger,S Vasile,J Innerlohinger

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/254/14/142001

Abstract

In this work, the handfeel of fabrics made of wood-based fibers such as viscose, modal and Lyocell was investigated in relation to cotton fabrics applying the Tissue Softness Analyzer (TSA) method in comparison to other classical methods. Two different construction groups of textile were investigated. The validity of TSA in assessing textile softness of these constructions was tested. TSA results were compared to human hand evaluation as well as to classical physical measurements like drape coefficient, ring pull-through and Handle-o-meter, as well as a newer device, the Fabric Touch Tester (FTT). Physical methods as well as human hand assessments mostly agreed on the softest and smoothest range, but showed different rankings in the harder/rougher side fabrics. TSA ranking of softness and smoothness corresponded to the rankings by other physical methods as well as with human hand feel for the basic textile constructions.

Highlights

Various approaches to assess fabric handfeel by physical methods have been developed in the last 50 years such as Kawabata, ring pull-through, Handle-o-meter, drape coefficient etc. [1, 2]
The handfeel of fabrics made of wood-based fibers such as viscose, modal and Lyocell was investigated in relation to cotton fabrics applying the Tissue Softness Analyzer (TSA) method in comparison to other classical methods
TSA results were compared to human hand evaluation as well as to classical physical measurements like drape coefficient, ring pull-through and Handle-o-meter, as well as a newer device, the Fabric Touch Tester (FTT)

Summary

Introduction

Various approaches to assess fabric handfeel by physical methods have been developed in the last 50 years such as Kawabata, ring pull-through, Handle-o-meter, drape coefficient etc. [1, 2]. TSA results were compared to human hand evaluation as well as to classical physical measurements like drape coefficient, ring pull-through and Handle-o-meter, as well as a newer device, the Fabric Touch Tester (FTT). TSA ranking of softness and smoothness corresponded to the rankings by other physical methods as well as with human hand feel for the basic textile constructions.

Results

Conclusion