USDA Natural Fiber Blend Research1

Abstract

The processing of cotton/wool blends on the cotton system to produce yarns for fabrics for flight- crews' uniforms was investigated. Fibers (a combed Acala 1517-V cotton, a stretch-broken 64s wool, and a cut 64s wool) were blended in various percentages during drawing. The 39-mg/m (Neo = 15/1) yarns with different twists were spun on both the ring and open-end spinning systems to form warp and filling yarns. These yarns were made into 2/2 right-hand twill fabrics. Optimum processing variables for roving and ring-spinning processes are given. Yarn and fabric data from the ring and open-end spun lots are compared with corresponding worsted lots. In general, ring-spun yarns ranked first, open-end-spun yarns second, and worsted yarns third in pertinent yarn properties. In gray fabrics, ring yarn ranked first, worsted second, and open-end third. High-quality products of cotton/ wool blends can be produced on the cotton system.

A Wool/Cotton Blend Fabric Made with Scoured Wool Processed Through the Carding Cleaner

“…If wool could be shortened before it is made into tops, the method would be inexpensive and profitable for manufacturing wool blends, especially on the short staple system. Exploratory experiments by Louis [ 12,13] showed that the carding cleaner (CC), a machine developed at SRRC for cleaning cotton [ 10,11 ],. was suitable for cleaning and shortening scoured wool on a small production basis.…”

Processing Mechanically Cleaned and Shortened Scoured Wool on the Cotton System

“…if large amounts of woolen or worsted fabrics were needed in an emergency, yarn would have to be spun on the predominant cotton or short-staple system. Exploratory experiments by Louis [7,8] showed that the carding cleaner, a machine developed at SRRC for cleaning cotton [4,51, is suitable for cleaning and breaking scoured wool on a small production basis. Previous studies on processing short, cut, or broken wool on the cotton system [2,9] were encouraging.…”