TSA Tissue / Nonwovens Softness Analyzer: a new method to measure the softness of nonwovens and textiles

Transcription

1 TSA Tissue / Nonwovens Softness Analyzer: a new method to measure the softness of nonwovens and textiles Alexander Grüner Global Marketing and Business Development Manager Emtec Electronic GmbH Leipzig, Germany 1

2 Source: Lenzing customer survey, n23 2

3 Agenda 1. GENERAL ABOUT HAPTICS 2. TECHNICAL BASICS OF THE TSA 3. RESULTS 4. APPLICATION 5. CORRELATION OF THE TSA WITH THE HUMAN FEELING 6. CONCLUSION 3

4 1. General about haptics Procedure of testing nonwoven material: Test: Hand moves over the sample surface. Sample is crumpled by the hand. Generation of different vibrations, shear forces and resistance forces against deformation dependent on: real softness (comes from the fibers) felt smoothness / roughness stiffness Different sensors of the hand (in the finger tips): Vater-Pacini-bodies (reception of fast processes like vibrations real softness) Meissner-bodies (react to pressure changes from 10 50Hz roughness) Merkel-bodies (reception of slow changing forces stiffness) Different signals via nerves Brain Impression of softness 4

5 1. General about haptics Problems of hand feel test Sensitivity of hands varies Separating the basic parameters is not satisfactorily possible Results dependent on: Testing procedure, personal preferences, market specific preferences, culture, mood, etc. 5

6 1. General about haptics ALL people have one commonality based on their genetic disposition: The hand feeling is a combination of three basic parameters, detected from the different sensors in the hand, combined in the brain to an overall impression: 1. Softness (mainly determined by the fiber stiffness and behavior, like short/long fibers; affected also by chemicals) 2. Roughness/smoothness (mainly determined by the surface structure) 3. Stiffness (mainly determined by the fiber behavior, production technology, chemicals) But: Different sensitivity of the sensors in the finger tips Different preferences of the people Each person weights the three parameters differently. Therefore, each person achieves different results. 6

7 1. General about haptics The only solution for this problem is the use of an objective technical device, which is, of course, usual for all parameters in technical processes. Solution: TSA Tissue/Nonwovens Softness Analyzer Measures three basic parameters of haptic Real softness Smoothness/ Roughness Stiffness 7

8 2. Technical basics of TSA Measuring Head Rotor with blades Measuring Cell, incl. fixing ring Cancellation of surrounding noise 8

9 2. Technical basics of TSA The TSA measurement is a two-step measurement: 1. Step: Sound Analysis Two parameters are measured the roughness and the real softness 2. Step: Deformation measurement One parameter is measured the stiffness 9

10 2. Technical basics of TSA Smoothness/Roughness blade motion (vertical position is fixed) Vertical vibration of the nonwoven sample (caused by the horizontal motion of the blade and the surface structure) 10

11 2. Technical basics of TSA Smoothness/Roughness embossed sample The first peak: smoothness / roughness unembossed sample 11

12 2. Technical basics of TSA Softness Vibrations of the blades itself, caused mainly by the stiffness of the fibers and their slippery 12

13 2. Technical basics of TSA Softness embossed sample The second peak: Real softness unembossed sample 13

14 2. Technical basics of TSA Stiffness 1 2 F = 100 mn F = const. = 600 mn Determined by the measurement of the sample deformation under a defined force 14

15 2. Technical basics of TSA 15

16 3. Results Three basic parameters of haptic Real softness: Fiber stiffness, chemicals, Smoothness/ Roughness: Surface structure, Stiffness: Fiber stiffness, chemicals,.. Calculated hand feel numbers HF (based on standard models or adapted to the respective customers hand feel panel) 16

17 4. Application of the TSA Process Optimization/ trouble shooting QA of base material, finished products Product Development For nonwoven manufacturers, converters, chemical suppliers For nonwoven manufacturers, converters For nonwoven manufacturers, chemical suppliers To investigate the impact of targeted changes in process parameters Enables fast reaction to variations in production quality and deviations Control Enables the definition of product specifications, adapted to the need of the individual customers To develop new products according to market specifics 17

18 4. Application of the TSA Complaint Management For nonwoven manufacturers, chemical suppliers Product Presentation/ Benchmarking For nonwoven manufacturers, chemical suppliers To identify the reasons for the complaint To prove the performance of chemicals (Chemical suppliers) To present new products to purchasers of supermarket chains or converters relatively to competitor products (Tissue producers) 18

19 4. Application of the TSA Application example measurement of wet wipes Comparison of the base material (dry) and the finished product (wet) Measurement of: Softness, Roughness, Stiffness The first peak: smoothness / roughness Samples: The second peak: Real softness Data: 19

20 4. Application of the TSA Application example measurement of wet wipes Comparison of the base material (dry) and the finished product (wet) Measurement of: Compressibility Data: 20

21 5. Correlation of the TSA with the human hand The correlation analysis on the left side has been done between a North American, very well trained consumer panel and the TSA. 54 toilet paper samples of different quality (very good to very bad) have been tested with the TSA, the HF values from the hand panel have been available. A correlation of 0.94 could be reached (max dev. 4, mean dev. 1). 21

22 5. Correlation of the TSA with the human hand HF Panel HF TSA Handle-O-meter HF panel vs. Handle-o-meter R² = 0, HF panel vs. HF TSA R² = 0,

23 6. Conclusion Advantages of the TSA Application High reproducibility, repeatability, accuracy The three basic parameters are measured: (softness, smoothness and stiffness) Efficient Process Optimization Product Development Complaint Management Hand feel number HF: simulates the combined hand feeling Replaces the human hand panels by objective measurement Problem of hand panel: No international standards for hand panel test Different testing procedures in different companies and countries Solution: HF results can be easily adapted to any existing panel via mathematical models Quality Control 23

24 Thank you! emtec Electronic GmbH Gorkistr Leipzig Germany Tel.: