Solidity Ratio
The sizing add-on ratio is a strict mathematical proportion applied during the warp preparation phase in Chinese flax spinning mills to measure the dry starch weight added to linen yarns against their raw baseline mass. Operating within the initial sizing department, this calculation tracks the solid protective film deposited on parallel yarn sheets before they enter the weaving shed. Technicians record the metric on the daily production sheet attached to each slasher frame.
Fibre grades undergo tensile evaluation before this treatment occurs, whereas finished fabric grades face bursting strength tests on the loom output. Mills must maintain this proportion within strict tolerances set by export contracts, separating internal factory standards from the buyer acceptance thresholds noted in shipping paperwork. Starch application protects delicate vegetable fibres from abrasive heald frames during high-speed mechanical weaving.
Application Threshold
Starch baths coat flax yarn to reduce hairiness and prevent filament breakage under mechanical tension. Raw flax fibres possess high rigidity and low elasticity, making them prone to snapping without protective starch layers. Operators calibrate the squeeze rolls on the sizing machine to force the adhesive paste into the core of the yarn bundle rather than leaving it on the exterior.
Excessive starch deposition creates brittle warp threads that shatter during shedding, while insufficient solid retention leaves yarns vulnerable to friction from reed wires. Mill supervisors verify that moisture content drops to safe levels inside the drying cylinders immediately following the starch bath. Laboratory technicians cut small samples from the dried warp beam, strip the applied starch through enzymatic washing, and weigh the dry residue to confirm compliance.
Export quality control manuals specify distinct numerical boundaries for fine linen shirting yarns versus heavier canvas warp threads.
Contractual Variance
Export buyers reject yarn lots that deviate from agreed mass addition targets, forcing mills to reprocess substandard batches or face financial penalties recorded in the final inspection certificate. Trade agreements establish whether the mill internal standard or the buyer threshold governs the shipment release. Disagreements occasionally arise between mill operators and export inspectors regarding moisture interference during dry weight calculations, centering on ambient humidity levels inside testing laboratories.
Precise control over starch pick-up prevents loom stoppages and ensures that finished linen cloth meets the dimensional stability demanded by foreign garment manufacturers.