Extraction Volume
Short fibre byproduct extracted during the secondary refining of flax. The presence of comb noils indicates the removal of broken or entangled filaments that would otherwise lower the quality of the primary yarn. These fibres are collected beneath the combing machine as the fine steel pins pass through the hackled flax.
Spinning mills measure the percentage of these removed fibres to evaluate the efficiency of the refining process.
Commercial Utility
Diversion of these shorter fibres into secondary markets allows the mill to recover value from the raw material. While the long flax fibres go toward high-end apparel, the comb noils find use in coarse yarns or industrial non-woven applications. Because they lack the tensile strength of the long line fibre, they are often blended with cotton, viscose, wool or synthetic materials.
The price of this byproduct fluctuates based on the demand for lower-grade textiles in the domestic market.
Process Efficiency
Careful adjustment of the combing needles determines the ratio of long fibre to waste. High levels of comb noils might signal a brittle harvest or excessive force in the spinning preparation. Monitoring the weight of these extractions helps the supervisor adjust the speed of the machine pins.
Optimal settings maintain the profit margin of the spinning floor.
