Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry Of Science and Technology, Government of India

(1) To design and develop an indigenous automatic fibre length measurement instrument for long staple fibres, like wool, pashmina, angora etc.

Project Duration:	24 months (November 2011- October 2013)
Amount sanctioned by DST:	Rs. 22, 73, 000.00/-
Contact Person:	Director, Wool Research Association, Thane.
Area of Research:	Wool Technology
Place of Research:	Wool Research Association, Thane.

Abstract & Highlight:

One of the most important characteristics of fibre is fiber length, because it is the most important characteristic for spinners. Other things being equal in any yarn, longer fibres lead to greater strength than shorter fibres, and finer yarns can be spun from longer fibres. For some important yarn characteristics such as the frequency of neps and slubs, for the adjustment of machine settings and for some processing effects (such as noil in combing), the dominant factor is the fibre length distribution. That is why the commercial value of raw wool fibre is widely determined by its length in order of preference after diameter. So it is very much necessary to measure the average fibre length and its distributions, prior to mechanical processing. It is a measure, often determined to plan the processing system (such as worsted, woolen etc.) to spin the yarn and end product manufacture. Since it is difficult and impractical to measure the length of each individual fiber, most test methods and instruments for fiber length analysis adopt cluster length and weight measure of a group of fibers. Fiber length characteristics can then be obtained from the lengths and weights of the fiber groups.

The weight fraction of each length group plotted against the length of the group gives a weight-length distribution.

The available methods for single fibre length measurements are mostly manual and time consuming. The only automated single fibre length measurement Instrument is Advance Fibre Information System (AFIS) for mainly cotton. But this instrument is preferentially used for short staple fibres. Hence the proposed project aims at developing an instrument which can measure single wool fibre length automatically in series to arrive at an average value and distributions for both long staple and short fleece of wool and other fibres.

Objectives of the project:

The main objective of this project will be to develop an Automatic Instrument for measuring single fibre length of long staple fibre at affordable cost. Increase the efficiency and accuracy of single fibre length measurement procedure. Measure both individual length and length distributions.

(2) Design and Development of an instrument to determine/ characterize medullation type and distribution in various Indian wools by optical methods

Project Duration:	24 months (March 2012- February 2014)
Amount sanctioned by DST:	Rs.17, 99, 200.00/-
Contact Person:	Director, Wool Research Association, Thane.
Area of Research:	Wool Technology
Place of Research:	Wool Research Association, Thane.

Abstract & Highlight:

Indian wool fibers have different types of medullation and this causes major problems in mechanical as well as wet processing.

In animal fibers hollow or partially-hollow core is called medullation. It is classified as true, hetro, hairy, and kemp. It affects the properties like resiliency, dye uptake which is of utmost importance in case of carpet as well as garment manufacturing. True fibers have good dye uptake, but poor resiliency, where as hetro and hairy have poor dye uptake and very good resiliency. Kemp fibers are dead fibers which give dullness in appearance. Hence it is important to blend these fibers in optimized manner which can be accomplished only after proper identification of various types of medullated fibers.

So the proposed instrument will give the type of medullation and diameter of fibers which will help for proper mixing of fibers and solve the above stated problems. Moreover, this will also reduce the time and cost right first time, and play an important role in grading of Indian wools for traders and wool growers.

Objectives of the project:

1. To measure type of Medullation like Hetro, Hairy and Kemp.
2. To measure the diameter of fiber.
3. To do the grading of Indian wool.

To produce a good quality of carpet, suiting fabrics, shawls etc. it’s very important to select appropriate blend of wool fibers like right percentage of true fibers, hetro fibers, hairy fibers and kemp fibers. But currently there is no such technique for analysis of wool fiber medullation type and its distribution. In India this is done by projection microscope and this work is somewhat tedious and involves a certain amount of eye strain and results vary from person to person.

To produce a good quality of carpet, suiting fabrics, shawls etc. it’s very important to select appropriate blend of wool fibers like right percentage of true fibers, hetro fibers, hairy fibers and kemp fibers. But currently there is no such technique for analysis of wool fiber medullation type and its distribution. In India this is done by projection microscope and this work is somewhat tedious and involves a certain amount of eye strain and results vary from person to person.

So fiber medullation type and distribution is measured by newly developed instrument which will work automatically keeping highest accuracy and it will be easy to grade Indian wool. To redefine grading measures towards more complete specification of raw wool in terms of percentage of true, hetero and hairy fibres for trading within the country with improved awareness of processor requirements and in consonance with practical utility and scientific measures.

For, there is a requirement to establish how characteristics will affect the wool manufacturers buying strategy, blend, planning production and quality control. Unfortunately, all too often in the past there has been incomplete bridging between research and commercial exploitation this is to fulfil to objective.