Tactile Comfort and Surface Softness Measurement
topic
Surface softness is quantified by the Kawabata evaluation system measuring surface roughness (SMD), friction coefficient (MIU), and friction variation (MMD) using a contact sensor traversed across the fabric surface; the PhabrOmeter measures fabric hand by pushing fabric through a nozzle and analysing force-displacement curves to extract softness, smoothness, and stiffness indices.
Role
Provides objective numerical correlates of hand feel for fabric quality grading, finishing treatment validation, and consumer preference prediction, reducing reliance on subjective expert handle assessment in product development and quality control workflows.