Softfinishing

Softfinishing is a term used in manufacturing to describe a final group of finishing steps designed to impart a soft, tactile feel or gentle appearance to a material surface. The goal is not primarily to change color or hardness, but to adjust hand feel, drape, or perceived quality after initial shaping and coating operations. Softfinishing can involve chemical formulations, mechanical treatment, or a combination of both, and is applied across textiles, leather, wood products, and certain plastics.

In textiles, softfinishing commonly uses softening agents or emulsions (such as cationic or nonionic softeners) applied in a finishing bath, sometimes with heat or pressed calendering to set the feel; enzyme-assisted finishing or silicone-based finishes may also be employed to reduce stiffness and improve hand. In leather, softfinishing refers to treatments and topcoats that enhance suppleness, often using oils, fats, waxes, and conditioning agents during finishing while balancing colorfastness.

In wood products, softfinishing may involve final coats or waxes that yield a smooth, low-gloss, or satin feel; polishing and light buffing can contribute to a "soft" sensation rather than a hard surface. For plastics and composites, softfinishing may include lubricious or matte coatings that reduce surface abrasiveness and alter tactile perception without significantly affecting strength.

Key considerations include durability of the soft hand under use and cleaning, compatibility with dyes and coatings, environmental and safety constraints, and process control to ensure consistent feel across a batch. Quality assessment often combines subjective hand-feel tests with objective surface measurements such as gloss and abrasion resistance.

See also finishing, textile finishing, leather finishing, wood finishing.