A new criterion for 'time to condition', with data on rapid conditioning of opened fibre assemblies

Abstract

This report follows on from work reported at the Nice 99 meeting. It proposes a new criterion for determining time to condition in a much more precise manner than the current method. Use of this criterion will allow the use of both more realistic conditioning times, and in some cases, shorter times for routine work using rapid conditioning apparatus.

Additional data is presented on rapid conditioning of both clean and greasy fibres. It shows that increasing air velocity from 0.5 m/sec to 2 m/sec in rapid conditioning has only a small effect on reducing conditioning time from the dry side.

However, it was found that conditioning from the wet side was significantly faster than conditioning from the dry side. It is shown that fibres do not respond rapidly enough to changes in relative humidity, such that hysteresis becomes a factor in conditioning for diameter measurement. However, it is cautioned that the allowable cycling time in IWTO-52 should be re-examined.

Citation

"A new criterion for 'time to condition', with data on rapid conditioning of opened fibre assemblies", P. Baxter, Sliver Group, Report 05, IWTO Christchurch Meeting, April 2000