Calibrating Laserscan for Raw Wool Measurement and an Evaluation of an Alternative Transport Fluid

Abstract

This report compares the measurement performance of the “minicore” calibration strategy with the current standard “guillotine” calibration described in IWTO-12-98. The results presented are from a trial involving 3 international laboratories, viz AWTA Ltd. (Sydney), NZWTA Ltd. (Napier) and WTBSA Ltd. (Port Elizabeth) for both Mean Fibre Diameter and Standard Deviation of Diameter. A recommendation is made to change the LASERSCAN Test Method to require a “minicore” calibration to be used when measuring raw wool.

In addition, the use of LASERSCANS filled with either water/detergent transport fluid or the current isopropanol/water transport fluid is compared. Provided sufficient time is allowed for wool fibres in the fluid to reach an equilibrium diameter, calibrating a LASERSCAN filled with a water/detergent fluid was found to perform the same as a LASERSCAN filled with the isopropanol/water fluid. Consequently, a recommendation is made to allow the alternative fluid to be used. 

Citation

"Calibrating Laserscan for Raw Wool Measurement and an Evaluation of an Alternative Transport Fluid", D.W. Crowe & J.W. Marler, Report RWG03, Technology & Standards Committee, Raw Wool Group, IWTO, Nice Meeting, November, 2000