Impact of Elevated Microfibril Angles on Bast Fibre Tenacity
Elevated microfibril angles reduce bast fibre tenacity by shifting load distribution from cellulose backbones to matrix shear, depressing hackling yields.
Over-Retting Structural Defects
Fibre Degradation
Biological decomposition that extends beyond the removal of the pectin matrix damages the structural integrity of the flax cellulose wall. This excessive decomposition produces over-retting structural defects that decrease the yield of long line fibers during the scutching process. Fungal and bacterial enzymes attack the cellulose chains when the flax remains in the field or retting tank for too long.
Mill inspectors reject batches showing signs of these defects because they produce weak, dusty fiber bundles.
Processing Loss
Waste generation increases during scutching and combing when the cellulose walls of the flax fiber have been partially digested by microorganisms. The presence of over-retting structural defects causes the long line fibers to break into short tow fibers, which have a lower commercial value. Technicians in Chinese spinning mills analyze the scutching yield reports to identify batches that suffered from prolonged water exposure during the retting stage.
High amounts of short fibers reduce the efficiency of the wet spinning machines because the weakened bundles cannot withstand the tension of the draft rollers. Correcting the retting duration prevents these structural losses and maintains fiber consistency.
Yarn Flaw
Fabric defects and uneven yarn appearance often arise from weakened fiber bundles that disintegrate during spinning. Yarn spun from fiber containing over-retting structural defects exhibits high hairiness and low tensile strength. The inspection log records these irregularities during the final winding stage.
Supplying such yarn leads to poor fabric finishing.