Dew-Retted Heilongjiang Flax against Imported Water-Retted Bales
Dew-retted Heilongjiang flax provides cost savings for medium counts, while imported water-retted bales deliver the fineness needed for yarn counts above Nm 50.
Single Bundle Tenacity
Strength Metric
Maximum force a parallel group of fibres can withstand per unit of linear density defines the inherent mechanical integrity of a raw material batch. Using a Pressley or Stelometer tester, the single bundle tenacity is measured by clamping a small flat bundle of flax and pulling it until it breaks. This value is expressed in centinewtons per tex and functions as a critical quality benchmark for purchasing raw flax.
Grading Utility
Buyers in Chinese mills use this strength measurement to categorise flax into different quality grades for specific yarn counts. High single bundle tenacity suggests that the long fibres were well-matured and correctly retted without suffering fungal degradation. If the value is too low, the fibres will fragment during the scutching and hackling processes, leading to excessive waste and poor-quality yarn.
The test is often performed at a zero-gauge length to measure the maximum strength of the fibre substance itself. This data allows the mill to predict the spinning limit and the eventual durability of the woven linen cloth.
Testing Boundary
The result represents the average strength of the bundle and may mask individual weak points within the filaments. It is a bulk measurement that ignores the distribution of flaws across the entire lot.