Objective Evaluation of Fabric Hand

A simple extraction method effectively measures the changes in hand resulting from different fabric types, flame retardant (FR) finishes, and fabric wetness. The effects of FR finishes and wetness on the original fabric hand are inconsistent in terms of the direction of increase or decrease depending on the fabric and finish. When FR finished fabrics are wetted, hand forces increase for all fabrics tested. In investigating the re lationships between hand values and selected hand-related physical and surface prop erties, flexural rigidity, drape, and static friction are the major properties that influence hand force measured by the extraction method. This simple method appears to closely approximate the fabric tactile response the human hand feels when touching and grab bing. Hand values objectively measured by this method simultaneously reflect the phys ical and surface properties of the fabric that are important in determining overall hand.