Buying questions
Can softness be measured, or is it just opinion?
It can be measured, but no single number covers it. Softness is bending stiffness, compression softness and surface friction together, and buyers usually care about different ones.
At a glance
Specification at a glance
| Component | Test | What it predicts |
|---|---|---|
| Bending | Handle-o-meter | Drape and pack feel |
| Compression | Thickness at load | Cushion and loft |
| Surface friction | KES or internal | Skin feel |
| Basis weight | Gravimetric | Baseline for all three |
Why a softer hand can be weaker
Bonding raises strength and stiffness together. Lower bond energy gives a softer web with lower tensile, which is why soft grades are specified with a minimum strength rather than a maximum softness.
How to compare two samples fairly
Same weight, same fibre, same conditioning. Otherwise you are comparing weight, not softness, and the lighter sample always wins the hand test and loses the strength test.
Check the claim before it goes on the pack
Send the claim you want to make and the market it sells in. We reply with what the material can support and what it cannot.
Questions
Common questions
Is there an ISO softness standard?
Several test methods exist but no single universal softness number. Buyers usually specify a method and an internal target.
Does embossing make fabric softer?
It changes the surface and the perceived hand, usually increasing bulk and reducing flatness.
Which nonwoven is softest?
Fine filament spunbond and ES hot rolled, followed by light spunlace. Meltblown is soft but weak.