Introduction
The International Wool Textile Organisation2 (IWTO) has developed 4 individual Test Specifications, based on 3 different instruments, each of which may be used to issue IWTO Certificates for Mean Fibre Diameter of raw wool and/or wool sliver. These methods are:
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IWTO-6: |
Method of Test for the Determination of the Mean Diameter of Wool Fibres in Combed Sliver using the Airflow Apparatus; |
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IWTO-12: |
Measurement of the Mean and Distribution of Fibre Diameter using the LASERSCAN Fibre Diameter Analyser; |
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IWTO-28: |
Determination by the Airflow Method of the Mean Fibre Diameter of Core Samples of Raw Wool; and |
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IWTO-47 |
Measurement of the Mean and Distribution of Fibre Diameter of Wool using an Optical Fibre Diameter Analyser (OFDA). |
LASERSCAN (IWTO-12) and OFDA (IWTO-47), both accepted in 1995, are the most recent additions to this set of specifications. Amendments to the IWTO Core Test Regulations, and the IWTO Blue Book, to facilitate the commercial application of both of these new Specifications were accepted at the IWTO Congress in Nice in December 1996. However, a constraint was applied requiring the issuing of an Airflow (IWTO-28) Certificate to accompany each LASERSCAN or OFDA certificate. In June 1999 the Florence Congress of IWTO removed this constraint for the certification of Mean Fibre Diameter of Australian wool, thereby clearing the way for any licensed IWTO Laboratory in Australia to replace Airflow as its standard service with LASERSCAN or OFDA. AWTA Ltd has elected to use LASERSCAN and this transition will occur in July 2000.
First established as an IWTO Specification in June 1975, Airflow has been the wool industry’s primary method for determining the Mean Fibre Diameter of raw wool. The development of the LASERSCAN not only provides an improved measurement of this important characteristic, but also provides additional information that has not previously been readily available. The general availability of this information for Australian wool will further assist the world wool industry in producing better quality products from Australian greasy wool.
The implementation of LASERSCAN as the standard service for Australian wool is a major change, which has some short term and long term implications. This document is intended to assist all sectors of the industry in their understanding of this new technology and the information it provides.
2IWTO provides a forum for establishing standardised test procedures (IWTO Test Specifications), regulations governing the use of these procedures (IWTO Regulations), and procedures for arbitrating disputes over commercial transactions involving raw wool, wool sliver and wool yarns (the IWTO Blue Book). As such, IWTO is pivotal in providing a technical and commercial framework for international and intranational trade involving wool.