Extremely large variations occur in the compressional properties of wool samples. These variations are attributed to differences in the crimp structure of the fibers, crimp form and crimp frequency together accounting for 88.6% of the observed varia tions in compressional load. Alternatively, a single variable consisting of the product of crimp frequency and fiber diameter accounted for 88.7% of the variations. Other characteristics such as diameter, length, and mechanical properties of single fibers proved to be nonsignificant.

Large variations in the felting rate of loose wool are attributed, principally, to crimp characteristics of the single fibers.Crimp form alone accounts for 77.4% of the variation and, in combination with the directional frictional effect, for 83.3%.Crimp frequency accounts for 32.5% of the variations and, in combination with diameter, for 70.4%. The product of these latter two variables also accounts for a considerable amount of variation (67.1%).

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