OPTICAL METHOD FOR EVALUATING SURFACE AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF STRUCTURES MADE WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY FROM FIBERS, FILMS, POLYMERS OR A COMBINATION THEREOF

摘要

Optical methods for evaluating various surface and physical optical properties of structures made wholly or partially from fibers, polymers, films or a combination thereof are embodied in apparatus having a light source (14), diffuser (16), digitizing camera (12), and a sample (20) to be evaluated for specific properties. The method and apparatus for implementing the method comprises special illumination, software algorithms and controls that provide a solution for evaluating the properties of fiber orientation distribution function, basis weight, uniformity, fuzz and piling, texture, and other physical surface properties.