Properties of Apparel Wools

Abstract

A detailed report is presented on the physical properties of single wool fibers withdrawn from four master samples at various stages of worsted processing. The experimental procedure for sampling and testing is described. The following properties were taken from the force-extension curve: slope in the Hookean region, force at 20% extension, energy for 20% extension, force at break, and extension at break. A study of the correlation of these properties with cross- sectional area was made, and it was observed that at a given station in processing there is no im portant difference between wools of different origin when forces are reduced to stresses by division by the area. The changes in the force-extension properties during processing were found to be definite, but not great. Aging subsequent to certain operations was found to have negligible effect on physical properties except at very low extensions, where crimp recovery with aging occurs in single fibers free from constraints.