Hardy
Integrity Tester |
If you are, or want to be, involved in any facet of the manufacture or sale of baby diapers, sanitary napkins, adult incontinence or similar absorbent products, please read through our pages and contact our Consultant, Philip Hardy, by phone, fax or e-mail.
|
Description: An electro-mechanical device for the repetitive raising and dropping of disposable absorbent products in front of a light box in order to quantify the breaking strength of the absorbent core within the outer envelope and to observe the mode and position of breakage. The product can be tested in a dry condition or with a specific targeted insult so that the dry and wet strengths of the product can be determined at different stages of saturation. A reliable and consistent test device for the determination of a pad strength parameter in absorbent products such as diapers, underpads, shaped pads or sanitary napkins. The device can be fitted with a fixed or variable speed motor. Our standard operating speed is 60 drops per minute. The electrical cabinet has a counter, a motor speed console, a setting indicator and an emergency stop button. A remote Stop/Start hand switch is provided so that the Operator can stop and start the unit while observing the test piece at the front of the unit. |
 |
| Rationale |
|
The ability of the absorbent core
of a disposable product to remain intact before and after absorption
of fluids despite the dynamic impact from the wearer is key to the
effective performance of the product. |
 |
|
| The strength of the absorbent core is dependent on several factors - | ||
|
Fibre
length |
Pad
embossing Adhesion to roll materials Superabsorbent distribution |
Core
shape Core structure Drum forming consistency |
| The Hardy Integrity Test (HIT) method and device finally resolve this issue for disposables manufacturers. A real measurement of the integrity of the core can be achieved for consistency checks and as a design development parameter. |
| Test Categories |
| Consistency
testing |
Drum forming |
| SAP and fluff homogeneity |
|
| Glue application | |
| Compression / embossing | |
| Bifolding damage | |
| Package compaction |
| Development
testing |
Removal or reduction of tissue layer |
| Improvement of adhesive bond |
|
| Change of embossing or compression | |
| Change of absorbent core structure | |
| Changes in fluff and SAP content |
| Comparison
testing |
Comparison with other brands in dry and wet states |
| Comparison with other pad structures |
| Device Function |
1 |
All longitudinal elastics are cut from the absorbent product (if present). |
2 |
The trial products are placed in the clamps thus suspending them in front of the light box |
| 3 |
The height of drop is set at the required level. |
| 4 |
The light box is switched on. |
5 |
The motor is switched on and the product is repetitively dropped from the set height until failure is observed or a specified count is reached. |
|
Typical
Test Results |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
The daily or weekly drop height graph will give indications of two quality parameters: |
|
Contact us at Disposables Consultancy Service if you would like to receive more information. A video of the test and device is available on request. Please contact us if you require a price for this equipment.
Equipment Options:
The standard light box is 600mm high x 450mm wide and will be adequate
for testing all products up to 1300mm high. Larger vertical light boxes
are available on request if full display of large products is required.
Disposables
Consultancy Service
Copyright © 1999 [DCS]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
March 2010