Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric Quality Inspection Checklist for Buyers

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Why a Spunbond Quality Inspection Checklist Matters

A spunbond nonwoven fabric may look acceptable when you inspect a small sample but still create problems during mass production.

A buyer may discover that the actual GSM is lower than the agreed specification, roll widths are inconsistent, bonding is uneven, or the fabric performs differently from the approved sample. For applications such as shopping bags, diapers, medical products, agricultural covers, and packaging, these differences can affect production efficiency and finished-product quality.

That is why spunbond fabric quality inspection should not be limited to checking whether the fabric “looks good.”

A proper inspection should cover four levels:

1. Specification compliance

2. Physical and mechanical properties

3. Roll-to-roll consistency

4. Packaging and shipment condition

This checklist provides a practical framework that buyers can use before approving production, during factory inspection, or before shipment.

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1. Start With the Approved Specification

The first step in spunbond fabric quality inspection is not testing.

It is confirming what the supplier actually agreed to produce.

Before inspecting the goods, prepare the approved specification sheet, quotation, purchase order, technical data sheet, and approved sample.

Basic specification checklist

Item	Agreed specification	Inspection result
Raw material	Virgin PP / Recycled PP	☐
Fabric type	Spunbond	☐
Structure	SS / SSS / other	☐
GSM	___ g/m²	☐
Width	___ cm	☐
Color	Pantone / approved sample	☐
Roll length	___ m	☐
Roll weight	___ kg	☐
Treatment	Hydrophilic / Hydrophobic / UV / None	☐
Tensile strength	___ N/5 cm	☐
Elongation	___ %	☐
Application	___	☐

This step prevents a common inspection mistake: accepting a product that is technically consistent but does not match the purchase specification.

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2. Check the Fabric Appearance

Visual inspection is one of the fastest ways to identify potential production problems.

It should be performed under suitable lighting and, ideally, on several rolls rather than only one.

Check for:

• Uneven color

• Color variation between rolls

• Oil stains

• Water marks

• Dirt or foreign particles

• Black spots

• Melted polymer spots

• Holes

• Tears

• Wrinkles

• Creases

• Uneven bonding

• Excessive loose fibers

• Thick or thin areas

• Edge damage

• Roll telescoping

• Loose winding

A small cosmetic defect may not matter for every application. However, repeated defects across a roll can indicate a manufacturing or winding problem.

Buyer tip

Do not inspect only the outside layer of the roll.

If possible, unwind fabric from different sections of the roll. Some defects are hidden inside the roll and cannot be identified from the outer surface.

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3. Verify GSM

GSM, or grams per square meter, is one of the most important parameters in spunbond fabric quality inspection.

The nominal specification might be:

50 g/m²

But the buyer should not assume that every part of every roll is exactly 50 g/m².

Basic formula

If a sample has:

• Area = 100 cm²

• Weight = 0.5 g

Then:

GSM = sample weight ÷ sample area × 10,000

Therefore:

0.5 ÷ 100 × 10,000 = 50 g/m²

For better quality control, samples should be taken from multiple positions and, for larger orders, from multiple rolls.

GSM inspection checklist

Check	What to look for
Average GSM	Close to agreed specification
GSM variation	Consistent across sample positions
Roll-to-roll variation	No abnormal differences
Edge-to-center variation	No significant production instability
Actual vs nominal GSM	Within agreed tolerance

GSM matters because it influences material cost, thickness, strength, opacity, coverage, and sometimes production behavior.

A fabric that is significantly underweight may appear cheaper on a price-per-kg basis but provide less material per square meter.

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4. Measure Fabric Width

Width is particularly important when the fabric is used directly in converting equipment.

A supplier may quote:

160 cm width

But the buyer should verify whether the actual width consistently meets the agreed tolerance.

Measure:

• Beginning of roll

• Middle section

• End of roll

• Several production rolls

Also check whether the edges are straight and usable.

Width checklist

Inspection point	Result
Nominal width	___ cm
Beginning of roll	___ cm
Middle	___ cm
End	___ cm
Edge condition	Pass / Fail
Width variation	Acceptable / Not acceptable

For automatic bag-making, diaper production, medical products, or other converting processes, excessive width variation can create production problems even if the fabric itself appears visually acceptable.

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5. Check Thickness and Uniformity

Thickness is not always the primary specification for spunbond fabric, but it can provide useful information about fabric uniformity.

Two fabrics can have the same nominal GSM while behaving differently because of differences in fiber structure, bonding, and production conditions.

Use a suitable thickness gauge according to the agreed testing method.

Check multiple points rather than taking only one measurement.

Look for:

• Average thickness

• Thickness variation

• Edge-to-center differences

• Local thick spots

• Thin spots

• Abnormal compression behavior

Thickness should normally be evaluated together with GSM and the intended application rather than treated as an isolated quality indicator.

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6. Inspect Bonding Uniformity

Spunbond fabric depends on bonding to create a stable nonwoven structure.

Poor bonding can result in:

• Weak areas

• Fiber shedding

• Surface defects

• Poor tear resistance

• Uneven appearance

• Processing problems

Inspect the fabric surface for obvious differences in bonding pattern.

If necessary, perform a manual or laboratory test to evaluate whether the bonded structure remains stable during handling.

Pay particular attention to:

• Bonding pattern consistency

• Bonding strength

• Unbonded areas

• Excessively hard areas

• Excessively weak areas

• Pattern deformation

For products that require softness, excessive bonding can also be undesirable.

Therefore, the goal is not simply “maximum bonding.”

The correct bonding level depends on the application.

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7. Test Tensile Strength

Tensile strength is one of the most useful mechanical indicators for many spunbond applications.

However, tensile strength should normally be measured in both machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD).

A fabric can have good MD strength but significantly different CD performance.

Example inspection table

Property	Specification	Actual	Result
MD tensile strength	≥ ___ N/5 cm	___	Pass / Fail
CD tensile strength	≥ ___ N/5 cm	___	Pass / Fail
MD elongation	___ %	___	Pass / Fail
CD elongation	___ %	___	Pass / Fail

Testing conditions should be standardized because test results can change with the test method, specimen dimensions, conditioning, and equipment.

For commercial inspection, always define the testing method in advance.

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8. Check Elongation

Elongation tells the buyer how much the fabric stretches before breaking under the specified test conditions.

This matters differently depending on the application.

For example:

• A bag material may require a balance between strength and flexibility.

• A hygiene material may prioritize softness and processability.

• An agricultural fabric may require sufficient mechanical performance during installation and use.

Do not automatically assume that higher elongation means better fabric.

The useful question is:

Does the elongation match the requirements of the finished product?

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9. Evaluate Tear Strength When It Matters

Tensile strength and tear strength are not the same property.

Tensile testing measures resistance to pulling under a specified test setup, while tear testing evaluates resistance to propagation of a tear.

Tear performance can be particularly relevant when the fabric may be:

• Cut during converting

• Punctured

• Folded

• Pulled around corners

• Handled repeatedly

• Used as a bag material

If tear strength is important to your application, include it in the purchase specification rather than assuming it from tensile strength.

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10. Check Air Permeability for Relevant Applications

Air permeability can be important for products where airflow is part of the functional requirement.

Examples include:

• Hygiene products

• Medical applications

• Filtration-related structures

• Agricultural covers

• Certain breathable packaging applications

A fabric with extremely low air permeability is not automatically better than one with higher permeability.

The target depends on the application.

For quality inspection, compare the actual test result with the agreed range rather than using a generic “good” value.

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11. Verify Hydrophilic or Hydrophobic Performance

If the fabric has been ordered with a special wetting characteristic, the treatment needs to be verified.

For example:

Hydrophilic spunbond fabric

is designed to improve water or liquid wetting behavior.

Hydrophobic spunbond fabric

is intended to resist wetting under the specified conditions.

Simple water-drop observation can be useful for preliminary inspection, but it should not replace a defined laboratory test when the property is critical.

Inspection checklist

• Treatment specified?

• Treatment applied uniformly?

• Initial test result acceptable?

• Different rolls consistent?

• Performance after storage acceptable?

• Test method agreed with supplier?

For hygiene or medical-related applications, the buyer should define the relevant performance requirements rather than relying only on a visual water test.

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12. Check Color Consistency

Color can become a significant issue when producing bags, packaging, promotional products, or branded materials.

Inspect:

• Color against approved sample

• Color against Pantone reference where applicable

• Roll-to-roll consistency

• Beginning-to-end consistency

• Surface uniformity

• Color under suitable lighting

Important point

Do not compare two samples under completely different lighting conditions.

Metamerism can make colors appear different under different light sources.

For large orders, keep an approved physical color standard with the purchasing and quality-control documentation.

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13. Inspect Roll Winding

Roll construction is often overlooked during quality inspection.

Yet poor winding can cause problems during transportation and converting.

Check whether the roll has:

• Loose winding

• Excessive telescoping

• Uneven edges

• Crushed edges

• Core deformation

• Excessive wrinkles

• Loose outer layers

• Poor roll stability

A technically compliant fabric can still create production problems if it is badly wound.

Roll checklist

Item	Pass / Fail
Roll diameter	☐
Core size	☐
Roll weight	☐
Edge alignment	☐
Winding tightness	☐
Telescoping	☐
Core condition	☐
Surface protection	☐

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14. Verify Roll Length and Weight

For buyers purchasing large quantities, roll configuration affects warehouse management, transportation, and production efficiency.

Check:

• Roll length

• Roll weight

• Core diameter

• Roll diameter

• Number of rolls

• Net weight

• Gross weight

Do not rely only on the supplier's total shipment weight.

Randomly check individual rolls when the order value is significant.

Useful calculation

If:

• GSM = 50 g/m²

• Width = 1.6 m

• Roll length = 2,000 m

Then theoretical fabric weight is approximately:

50 × 1.6 × 2,000 ÷ 1,000 = 160 kg

The actual roll weight may differ because of packaging, core weight, tolerances, and measurement differences.

This calculation provides a useful cross-check.

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15. Inspect Multiple Rolls, Not Just One

One of the biggest mistakes in spunbond fabric quality inspection is approving the entire order based on a single roll.

Production consistency matters.

Suppose a buyer receives:

100 rolls

and checks only one roll.

That inspection provides very limited information about the remaining 99 rolls.

A better approach is to establish a sampling plan based on:

• Order quantity

• Product value

• Application risk

• Supplier history

• Specification complexity

• Customer requirements

For critical applications, additional laboratory testing may be appropriate.

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16. Compare Different Rolls for Consistency

After selecting the inspection samples, compare them side by side.

Look for variation in:

• GSM

• Width

• Color

• Thickness

• Tensile strength

• Elongation

• Air permeability

• Hydrophilic performance

• Appearance

• Roll weight

A supplier can technically meet the specification on average while still having excessive variation between individual rolls.

For many industrial buyers, consistency is as important as the average test result.

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17. Compare Production With the Approved Sample

The approved sample is a critical reference point.

Keep the following records:

• Original quotation

• Technical specification

• Approved sample

• Color standard

• Test report

• Purchase order

• Production sample

• Pre-shipment inspection results

During inspection, compare mass-production material against the approved sample.

Compare:

Appearance → GSM → Width → Thickness → Strength → Color → Functional properties → Roll construction

This is particularly important when a supplier produces the first large order after a sample approval.

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18. Check Packaging Before Shipment

Packaging should protect the fabric from moisture, dirt, compression, and transportation damage.

Inspect:

• Plastic wrapping

• Outer packaging

• Roll protection

• Pallet condition, if applicable

• Labeling

• Roll identification

• Container loading

• Moisture protection

For export shipments, the buyer should also verify whether the packaging is suitable for the expected transportation and storage conditions.

A quality product can still arrive damaged if packaging is inadequate.

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19. Verify Product Identification and Traceability

For repeat orders, traceability becomes increasingly valuable.

Each roll should ideally have an identification system such as:

• Roll number

• Production date

• GSM

• Width

• Color

• Batch number

• Order number

This allows the buyer to identify the source of a problem if a defect appears during production.

For example, if rolls 35–42 show abnormal tensile results, batch information can help determine whether they were produced during the same production period.

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20. A Practical Spunbond Fabric Quality Inspection Checklist

The following checklist can be copied directly into a purchasing or QC document.

Inspection category	Check item	Result
Specification	Raw material	☐
Specification	Fabric structure	☐
Specification	GSM	☐
Specification	Width	☐
Specification	Color	☐
Specification	Treatment	☐
Appearance	Color consistency	☐
Appearance	Stains	☐
Appearance	Holes	☐
Appearance	Foreign particles	☐
Appearance	Wrinkles	☐
Appearance	Surface uniformity	☐
Dimensions	Width	☐
Dimensions	Thickness	☐
Dimensions	Roll length	☐
Mechanical	MD tensile strength	☐
Mechanical	CD tensile strength	☐
Mechanical	MD elongation	☐
Mechanical	CD elongation	☐
Mechanical	Tear strength	☐
Functional	Air permeability	☐
Functional	Hydrophilic performance	☐
Functional	Hydrophobic performance	☐
Roll	Winding quality	☐
Roll	Core condition	☐
Roll	Roll weight	☐
Consistency	Roll-to-roll variation	☐
Packaging	Outer wrapping	☐
Packaging	Labels	☐
Packaging	Moisture protection	☐
Documentation	Test report	☐
Documentation	Batch/roll traceability	☐

Not every buyer needs every test.

The inspection checklist should be adjusted according to the final application.

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21. How Often Should Buyers Inspect Spunbond Fabric?

There is no universal inspection frequency for every order.

A practical approach is to increase inspection intensity when:

• The supplier is new

• The product specification is customized

• The order quantity is large

• The material is used in a critical application

• Previous quality problems have occurred

• The production process has recently changed

• A new color or treatment is introduced

For an established supplier with a stable quality history, the buyer may use a more streamlined inspection system while continuing periodic verification.

The objective is not to test everything every time.

The objective is to have enough inspection to control the actual risk of the purchase.

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22. What Should Be Tested in a Laboratory?

Visual inspection and basic dimensional checks can be performed during factory inspection, but some properties require laboratory equipment.

Depending on the application, laboratory testing may include:

• GSM

• Thickness

• Tensile strength

• Elongation

• Tear strength

• Air permeability

• Hydrostatic pressure

• Wetting performance

• UV resistance

• Thermal properties

• Microbiological or other application-specific requirements

The buyer should define the test method before testing.

A test result without a clearly defined method can be difficult to compare between suppliers.

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23. Common Quality Inspection Mistakes Buyers Make

Mistake 1: Checking only appearance

A fabric can look excellent while failing GSM or tensile requirements.

Mistake 2: Testing only one sample

One sample does not necessarily represent an entire shipment.

Mistake 3: Comparing different test methods

Two suppliers can report different numbers because they use different testing conditions.

Mistake 4: Ignoring CD performance

Only checking machine-direction strength can hide important differences.

Mistake 5: Checking average GSM only

Average GSM may be acceptable even when local variation is excessive.

Mistake 6: Ignoring roll construction

Poor winding can cause problems during converting.

Mistake 7: Inspecting only before shipment

Quality control should begin with specification approval and sample confirmation rather than waiting until the container is ready.

Mistake 8: Using generic acceptance criteria

The correct specification depends on the application.

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24. How Buyers Should Set Acceptance Criteria

A good inspection system should distinguish between:

Critical defects

Defects that can make the material unsuitable for the intended application.

Examples may include:

• Wrong material

• Wrong fabric structure

• Major contamination

• Severe mechanical failure

• Incorrect treatment for a critical application

Major defects

Problems that can significantly affect production or finished-product performance.

Examples include:

• Excessive GSM deviation

• Significant width deviation

• Poor bonding

• Severe roll telescoping

• Large color variation

Minor defects

Cosmetic or relatively low-impact issues that do not significantly affect the intended application.

The exact acceptance criteria should be agreed between buyer and supplier before shipment.

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25. A Better Way to Inspect High-Volume Orders

For large orders, inspection can be divided into three stages.

Stage 1: Pre-production

Confirm:

• Raw material

• GSM

• Width

• Color

• Structure

• Treatment

• Application requirements

• Approved sample

Stage 2: During production

Check:

• Appearance

• GSM

• Width

• Color

• Bonding

• Mechanical properties

• Roll configuration

This stage is useful because problems can still be corrected before the entire order is completed.

Stage 3: Pre-shipment

Verify:

• Final quantity

• Random roll samples

• Test results

• Packaging

• Labels

• Roll condition

• Container loading

• Shipping documentation

This three-stage approach is generally more useful than treating final inspection as the only quality-control point.

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26. What Should Buyers Ask a Spunbond Manufacturer?

Before placing a large order, buyers can ask the manufacturer:

1. What raw material will be used?

2. Is the material virgin or recycled PP?

3. What GSM tolerance can you guarantee?

4. What width tolerance can you guarantee?

5. How do you control roll-to-roll consistency?

6. What tensile test method do you use?

7. Can you provide a production sample before shipment?

8. Can you provide a test report?

9. How are rolls identified?

10. What packaging is used for export shipments?

11. What happens if the delivered fabric does not meet the approved specification?

12. Can you keep a production sample for future comparison?

These questions help move the conversation from “What is your price?” to “What exactly am I buying?”

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27. Buyer Example: Inspecting 50 GSM Spunbond Fabric

Imagine a buyer orders:

• Material: PP spunbond

• GSM: 50 g/m²

• Width: 160 cm

• Color: White

• Quantity: 20 tons

• Application: Reusable shopping bags

The inspection should not stop at confirming that the fabric is white.

A practical inspection sequence would be:

Step 1: Confirm the raw material and structure.

Step 2: Check GSM at multiple locations.

Step 3: Measure width on multiple rolls.

Step 4: Compare color against the approved sample.

Step 5: Inspect the surface and bonding.

Step 6: Test MD and CD tensile strength.

Step 7: Check elongation and tear performance if required.

Step 8: Inspect roll winding and core condition.

Step 9: Compare several production rolls.

Step 10: Verify packaging, labels, quantity, and shipment condition.

This approach provides much more useful information than simply opening one roll and visually checking the surface.

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28. The Most Important Principle: Inspect Against the Application

There is no single definition of “high-quality” spunbond fabric.

A material optimized for one application may not be appropriate for another.

For example:

Application	Important inspection priorities
Shopping bags	GSM, tensile, tear, color, printing compatibility
Baby diapers	Softness, uniformity, strength, hydrophilic performance
Medical gowns	Strength, barrier-related requirements, uniformity, cleanliness
Agricultural covers	GSM, strength, UV performance, air permeability
Packaging	Strength, appearance, GSM, printability
Mattress applications	Strength, dimensional stability, appearance
Construction	Strength, dimensional stability, application-specific performance

Therefore, a buyer should first define the finished-product requirements and then determine which spunbond properties need to be inspected.

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29. Final Buyer Checklist

Before approving a shipment, ask:

Specification

• Does the material match the purchase order?

• Is the GSM within the agreed tolerance?

• Is the width correct?

• Is the structure correct?

• Is the color correct?

• Are required treatments present?

Physical quality

• Is the surface clean?

• Is the fabric uniform?

• Are there holes, stains, or foreign particles?

• Is bonding consistent?

Mechanical performance

• Does MD strength meet the specification?

• Does CD strength meet the specification?

• Is elongation acceptable?

• Is tear strength acceptable where required?

Functional performance

• Does air permeability meet the requirement?

• Does hydrophilic/hydrophobic performance meet the requirement?

• Are application-specific properties verified?

Roll quality

• Are rolls evenly wound?

• Are cores undamaged?

• Is roll weight reasonable?

• Is roll length correct?

• Are multiple rolls consistent?

Shipment

• Is the quantity correct?

• Is packaging suitable?

• Are rolls correctly labeled?

• Is batch traceability available?

• Does the shipment match the approved sample?

If the answer to these questions is clear, the buyer has a much stronger basis for approving the shipment.

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FAQ

What is the most important test for spunbond nonwoven fabric?

There is no single test that is most important for every application. GSM, tensile strength, width, appearance, bonding, and application-specific properties should be considered according to the finished product.

How do you check the quality of spunbond fabric?

Start with the approved specification and sample. Then inspect appearance, GSM, width, thickness, bonding, mechanical properties, functional performance, roll construction, consistency, and packaging.

How do you check GSM of spunbond nonwoven fabric?

Cut a sample with a known area, weigh it accurately, and convert the result to grams per square meter. For production inspection, test multiple positions and rolls rather than relying on one sample.

Should buyers inspect every roll?

Not necessarily. A sampling plan can be used based on order size, product risk, supplier history, and customer requirements. Critical applications may justify more extensive inspection.

What documents should a buyer keep for quality inspection?

Keep the quotation, purchase order, approved sample, technical specification, color standard, test reports, inspection records, and shipment documentation. These records make future quality comparisons much easier.

Can visual inspection replace laboratory testing?

No. Visual inspection is useful for identifying appearance and obvious production problems, but mechanical and functional properties may require standardized laboratory testing.

Why is roll-to-roll consistency important?

A shipment can meet the average specification while still containing significant variation between individual rolls. Consistency is especially important when the fabric will be processed continuously by automated equipment.

What should buyers do if the fabric fails inspection?

First document the exact nonconformity, including the affected rolls, test method, actual result, and agreed specification. Then compare the result with the purchase agreement and discuss corrective action with the supplier before releasing the shipment.

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Conclusion

Effective spunbond fabric quality inspection is not simply about finding defects.

It is about confirming that the material delivered by the manufacturer matches the specification that the buyer actually needs.

The most useful inspection system combines:

Approved specification → sample approval → production monitoring → physical testing → roll sampling → consistency checking → packaging inspection → traceability

For buyers purchasing large quantities of spunbond nonwoven fabric, this process can reduce the risk of receiving material that looks acceptable but performs differently during converting or final-product production.

The key principle is simple:

Do not inspect spunbond fabric only by appearance. Inspect it against the specification, the approved sample, and the requirements of the finished product.