Association Between Raw Wool Characteristics and Processing to Top

Abstract

Batches in a combing plant were monitored to examine the relative influence of a number of greasy wool characteristics on the early stages of worsted processing. Characteristics measured for each batch included those normally available from core testing (mean fiber diameter, yield, and vegetable matter content), together with staple length and its variability, staple strength and the position of staple weakness, clean color, resistance to bulk compression of clean wool, and variability of fiber diameter. Combing noilage, the mean and distribution of fiber length, and the mean fiber diameter of the resultant tops were the processing factors considered. High levels of association were found between selected subsets of the characteristics of the greasy wool and the processing factors. There is some discussion of the appropriateness of the methods of regression analysis and the refevance of the work to the commercial situation.

A Wool Staple–length Meter

“…The concept of a plane of detection is a departure from the single light beam used on previous instruments [5,6].…”

“…More importantly, recent processing experiments and trials [4,5] have sbown that staple length ls one of a number of important characteristics that are correlated with tbe processing performance of greasy wool.…”

Statistical Procedures for Predicting Length Characteristics of Top from Raw Wool Measurements

“…In the studies above the emphasis was placed on the explanation of processing performance in terms of the important raw wool variables, rather than prediction. This paper extends the analyses by examining the predictive ability of alternative approaches to the data of the earlier work [9]. Specifically, we compare four methods of choosing subsets of raw wool variables and then estimating regression coefficients for the prediction equations.…”

“…In two recent studies [9,14], batches of wool were monitored for a selection of measured raw wool characteristics to examine their relative influence on the fiber length of tops and on other processing factors. Statistical procedures were used to determine the degree of association between the processing factors and the raw wool measurements.…”

“…High levels of association were found between selected subsets of the characteristics of greasy wool and many of the processing factors. For example, in the study on 39 batches from a commercial combing plant [9], over 96% of the variation in the batches, for hauteur, was accounted for by subsets of raw wool measurements, including mean fiber diameter, staple length, and staple strength.…”