TIPS and test methods.

A new TAPPI Test Method has been proposed: "Surface Texture of Soft Tissues." This method provides a numerical indication of the surface topography of a sheet of soft tissue. When combined with other test data such as elastic modulus, surface texture can be used to determine surface softness indexes that correlate well with human evaluations of "hand feel." The proposed method describes a procedure for determining one of the major contributory factors to the human perception of surface softness, it is applicable to bathroom, facial and toweling tissue products, including embossed products and those treated with softness modifying additives. The method is unsuitable for soft tissue in unconverted forms, for example, jumbo reels, and all other types of paper and paperboard.

Any TAPPI members who are interested in this method may join the Standard-Specific Interest Group (SSIG) to receive ballots when this method is ready for vote. If you would like to join the SSIG for this project, please notify Charles Bohanan at TAPPI ([e-mail] or fax at [phone]) before August 1, 2003.