7. Conclusion

The use of polymers, thanks to the diversity of materials and processes available, offers a wide range of possibilities for personalizing products and seducing consumers. After having been the inseparable complement of sight, the feel of a material is now an integral component of a product's formulation in the service of perceived quality.

However, to achieve these objectives in the most effective and successful conditions, it is still necessary today :

• integrate sensory analysis methods and tools into product design and production;

• to make the best use of the possibilities offered by instrumental product characterization, with constant concern for its representativeness and correlation with sensory characterization.

Today, while there are a number...