Quantifying Wet Spinning Limits for Low Cohesion Bast Fiber Slivers
Low cohesion flax slivers collapse under high draft ratios, requiring reduced trough temperatures, higher roving twist, and tight ratch settings to hold count.
Surfactant Plasticization
Surface Active Treatment
Incorporation of specialized wetting agents into the rove preparation bath lowers the surface tension of water to accelerate the softening of flax fibres. This physical chemical process, known as surfactant plasticization, allows for rapid wetting of the hydrophobic wax layer that covers raw flax. By improving liquid penetration, this method enhances the uniformity of pectin softening before the drafting rollers engage the yarn.
It is applied to both long-line and short-staple flax spin plans.
Moisture Penetration
Rapid absorption of heated liquid by the rove depends on the concentration and type of surface-active molecules in the bath. Under the action of surfactant plasticization, water molecules penetrate the tightly bound fiber bundles more quickly than they would in pure water alone. This rapid action reduces the necessary immersion time in the spinning trough, enabling higher operating speeds on the spinning frame.
Operating speeds are elevated. The treatment prevents the dry-core effect where the inner fibers of a thick rove remain un-wetted and resist drafting.
Structural Elasticity
Chemical agents modify the intermolecular bonds of the gum without degrading the primary cellulose strands. When surfactant plasticization is executed, the wet flax exhibits higher elasticity, allowing for smoother drafting with fewer breakages. Mills balance dosages to prevent residual surface film.