Frictional Forces on Wool Fibers in a Worsted Fabric

Abstract

The force needed to move wool fibers in a loose worsted fabric has been measured by extracting fibers from the fabric. The results are compared with the frictional co efficients found by the capstan method, and it is shown that the coefficients measured on a capstan made of yarns are simply related to the forces. The pressure on fibers within the fabric has been determined from these measurements, and all three quantities have been found as a function of washing time during the early stages of felting. The sig nificance of these results to theories of felting is discussed.