Rieter

The influence of fineness

Index

Fineness is normally one of the three most important fiber characteristics. A multitude of  fibers in the crosssection provide not only high strength but also better distribution in the yarn. The fineness determines how many fibers are present in the cross-section of a yarn of given thickness. Additional fibers in the cross-section provide not only additional strength but also better evenness in the yarn.

About thirty fibers are needed at the minimum in the yarn cross-section, but there are usually over 100. One hundred is approximately the lower limit for almost all new spinning processes. This indicates that fineness will become still more important in the future.

Fiber fineness influences primarily:

Productivity is influenced via the end-breakage rate, the number of turns per inch required in the yarn (giving improvement of the handle), and generally better spinning conditions. In the production of blends, it must be borne in mind that, at least in conventional ring spinning processes, fine fibers accumulate to a greater extent in the yarn core and coarser fi bers at the periphery.

Blending of fine cotton fibers with coarse synthetic fibers would produce a yarn with an externally synthetic fiber character.