A Preliminary Report on the Use of Raw Wool Measurements to Predict Fibre End Characteristics of Top
Abstract
A Draft Test Method concerned with measurement of the mean fibre diameter (MFD) of fibre ends was accepted at the most recent IWTO Congress held in Nice, 2001. The new Method, entitled ‘Measurement of Fibre End Characteristics in Wool Slivers as a Guide to Fabric Skin Comfort’, incorporates an index of skin comfort, the Fibre Ends Fineness Index (FEFI). This paper reports on the distribution of the FEFI observed in 163 commercial tops from the TEAM-3 project.
The MFD of fibre ends in a top is closely related to the MFD of the top. Fitting the MFD of fibre ends based on Raw Wool measurements resulted in a correlation coefficient, R2, of 97% and a Standard Error of 0.27 µm. Similarly, fitting FEFI on the basis of Raw Wool measurements gave an R2 of 35% and a Standard Error of 0.23 µm.
In addition, a preliminary investigation is made into the predictability of FEFI from raw wool measurements. The incorporation of results from further commercial and sale lot processing may lead to more reliable predictions of both the MFD of fibre ends in top and the FEFI. These predictions may well incorporate a significant mill factor.
Citation
"A Preliminary Report on the Use of Raw Wool Measurements to Predict Fibre End Characteristics of Top", T.J. Mahar, J.M.A. O'Keefe and R.C. Couchman, Report 01, Sliver Group, IWTO Barcelona Meeting, May 2002