Flax Cell Wall Microfibril Alignment Determination Methods
X-ray scattering and polarized Raman spectroscopy determine flax microfibril angles to project spinning performance and yarn tenacity.
Wet Spinning Tenacity
Drawn Strength
Yarn fracture resistance describes the maximum tensile strength achieved by linen yarns that are drawn and spun while moistened by hot water. Maximizing the wet spinning tenacity requires precise control of the drafting speed and the temperature of the water in the trough. This mechanical property determines how well the yarn will perform on high speed weaving machinery.
High tenacity prevents yarn snapping during the rapid insertions of rapier and projectile looms, which is crucial for mill productivity.
Process Control
Trough water temperature and draft ratio directly affect the strength of the finished yarn. If the hot water fails to soften the pectins, the drafting rollers split the fiber bundles unevenly, which lowers the wet spinning tenacity and increases thin spots. Conversely, over-softening the fibers can cause them to slip too freely, reducing the orientation of the polymer chains and weakening the structure.
Spinners must constantly monitor the trough conditions to maintain the optimal tension and alignment. Consistent monitoring of these wet drafting parameters is the only way to avoid producing batches with high strength variance.
Quality Testing
Tensile testing machines evaluate the breaking force of yarn samples to confirm they meet customer standards. Spinners record the force required to break the yarn under standard moisture conditions to ensure the quality is maintained. This data is recorded on the mill’s quality certificates before the yarn is shipped to the weaving mills or dye houses.
Consistently high test results allow the mill to command premium prices in the export market.