The “handfeel” is a fundamental quality parameter of tissue, nonwoven and fabrics. It may be characterized by e.g. real softness (determined by fiber stiffness, refining and softener chemicals), smoothness (creping/embossing), stiffness (e.g. fiber behavior, structure), compressibility and “crumpleability“.
The assessment of the softness usually will be performed by a human panel, consisting of a few persons. This test is very expensive, unreliable, time-consuming, and the results are subjective and influenced by many factors such as culture, personal preferences, and mood.
The Tissue Softness Analyzer TSA is an objective measuring instrument and the only existing device which fulfills all the according requirements in the tissue industry. It simultaneously gathers all single relevant parameters which have an influence on the haptic characteristics of tissue which are: Softness, Smoothness/Roughness, and Stiffness.
Additionally, with optional accessories it is possible to measure the ball burst strength, compressibility, and “crumpleability“. Parameters for those values will be automatically calculated by high-performance PC software.
The correlation of the measuring results of the TSA to reliable hand panel numbers, determined by experienced hand panels, is excellent (up to 100 %).
