Measurement of the dynamics of fluid sorption for tissue papers

Liquid absorption ability belongs to the most important features of tissue papers. Due to non-homogeneous internal and superficial structures, precise and fast evaluation of this property is challenging. The main aim of the presented research was to design an experimental device dedicated to the measurement of the kinetics of wetting phenomenon for tissue papers. The second aim was to evaluate whether it was possible to use image analysis for more precise characterization of liquid absorption properties of tissue paper. The obtained results showed that the method used, based on image analysis supported by gravimetric methods, proved to efficiently and quantitatively characterize the dynamics of liquid absorption for tissue papers. Supplementary parameters such as absorption anisotropy and in-plane velocity were obtained. Different experimental results were obtained for various tissue paper grades. Furthermore, water absorption capacity calculated from image analysis data correlated with results obtained according to the standard method EN ISO 12625-8:2010 “Tissue paper and tissue products—Part 8: Water-absorption time and water-absorption capacity, basket-immersion test method.” Hence, the presented device quantitatively characterizes and discriminates water absorption phenomenon for tissue papers.