Wool and Worsted Warp Preparation
topic
Wool and worsted warp preparation uses gentle handling to prevent fibre felting, with winding at low tension of 3 to 8 percent of breaking strength to avoid permanent extension of the elastic fibre, warping at 200 to 400 metres per minute to reduce static tension that causes fibre damage, and sizing with CMC or cellulose ether adhesives at 4 to 8 percent add-on that provide adequate cohesion without the high-temperature application that would felt wool surfaces, with antistatic treatment being essential for synthetic carpet warp yarns.
Role
Adapts standard warp preparation practices for the specific fragility and elastic properties of wool fibres that require reduced tension and temperature throughout preparation compared to cotton, with wool's susceptibility to felting and heat damage establishing the upper limits of tension, temperature, and speed that preparation equipment must operate within to avoid permanently damaging the fibre structure that determines woven fabric quality and handle.