Determining Tactile Comfort of Cellulose-Based Woven Fabrics, Knitted Fabrics and Terry Towels Using a Novel Instrument

ABSTRACT

In this study, tactile comfort of woven bed sheets, terry towels, and weft knitted fabrics made of cotton and blends was investigated. Tactile Sensation Analyzer (TSA) was used for determining surface characteristics and low-stress mechanical properties of fabrics. Micro and macro-surface variations were determined via a special sound analysis technique, and low-stress mechanical properties (deformation, elasticity, hysteresis, and plasticity) were measured in out-of-plane deformation state. Total hand (TH) scores of fabrics were determined by expert assessors via sensory tests. Findings of the study revealed that surface and low-stress mechanical properties measured using TSA were strongly and significantly correlated with sensory evaluation results in general. It was detected that tactile comfort of knitted fabrics and towels was strongly related to the magnitude of macro-surface variations; meanwhile, micro-surface variations were found out to be a more determinant parameter for bed sheets. It was observed that deformation and recovery characteristics of bed sheets and towels have a significant effect on TH scores as well. Hand of fabrics was also investigated by a conventional nozzle test equipment for comparison purposes, and it was detected that TSA results can represent fabric hand better than the raw data obtained from the nozzle test equipment.

摘要

在本研究中，对棉和混纺织物制成的机织床单、毛圈毛巾和纬编织物的触觉舒适性进行了研究. 采用触觉分析仪（TSA）测定织物的表面特性和低应力力学性能. 通过特殊的声音分析技术确定微观和宏观表面变化，并测量平面外变形状态下的低应力力学性能（变形、弹性、滞后和塑性）. 织物的手部（TH）总分由专家评估员通过感官测试确定. 研究结果表明，使用TSA测量的表面和低应力机械性能与总体感官评估结果密切相关. 研究发现，针织物和毛巾的触觉舒适性与宏观表面变化的大小密切相关; 同时，发现微表面变化是床单的一个更具决定性的参数. 观察到床单和毛巾的变形和恢复特性对TH评分也有显著影响. 为了进行比较，还通过传统的喷嘴测试设备对织物的手感进行了研究，发现TSA结果比从喷嘴测试设备获得的原始数据更能代表织物的触感.

KEYWORDS:

• Tactile comfort
• fabric hand
• sensory evaluation
• surface structure
• low-stress mechanical properties
• Tactile Sensation Analyzer

关键词:

• 触感舒适
• 织物手
• 感官评价
• 表面结构
• 低应力机械性能
• 触觉感知分析仪

Highlights

• Hand of bed sheets was highly related to surface, elasticity and recovery properties.

• Hand of towels was greatly affected by surface characteristics and compressibility of pile yarns.

• Hand of knitted fabrics was significantly correlated with macro-surface variations.

• Results of Tactile Sensation Analyzer (TSA) were validated by sensory evaluations.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank to the assessors participated in sensory evaluations. We also would like to thank to Emtec Electronic GmbH for their cooperation in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.