Objective Evaluation of Hand for Futon Cloth

Abstract

In order to evaluate fabric hand of Futon cloth objectively, five primary hands for Futon cloth were selected and defined from the opinions of experts who engaged in allied industry and distribution of Futon cloth. They are "SOFUTOSA", "KOSHI-F", "NUMERI-F", "FUKURAMI" and "GASATSUKI", and can explain 83% of the descriptions used for hand evaluation. Objective evaluation equation (DM-02) of Futon cloth was developed from its basic mechanical characteristics by the stepwise block residual regression method with high accuracy and with small errors. The equation for evaluating Total Hand Value (THV) of Futon cloth objectively (DM-11) was also derived from seven parameters, namely, five primary hands, air resistance and water regain by the stepwise block residual regression method. The equation obtained showed high accuracy, small errors and usefulness in practical application. Subjective evaluation of the primary hands and THV by consumers showed a little larger variation between each panel than that by experts. However, mean value of each primary hand and THV by consumers agreed well with that by experts. Therefore, the objective evaluation equation derived from subjective evaluation of experts can be used widely for objective evaluation of primary hands and THV (DM-02, DM-11). Experts take care of the degree of "SOFUTOSA" for the evaluation of THV first of all, but, consumers judge the degree of "GASATSUKI" for it.