Hohenstein researches textiles’ softer side

The Hohenstein Institute, Bönnigheim, Germany, has developed a digital method which allows 3-D analysis of the surface of textiles that come into direct contact with people’s skin. This new microscopy technique will allow greater understanding of the mechanical nature of contact between textile surfaces and skin, enabling manufacturers to improve the friction properties of textiles. The research has also made it possible to predict where and how a fabric will contact and rub against human skin, especially when it is pressed down vertically. The 3-D analysis can be applied to any textile worn directly next to the skin that exerts any lasting strain on the wearer’s skins during normal use such as, for example, when exercising.