CHAPTER VII 

 WOOL 



Characteristics of wool Wool qualities, 6o's, 64*8, etc. Analysis of wool 

 Action of acid and alkali solutions on wool Testing supposed all- 

 wool cloth for adulteration Carbonizing wool to remove burrs and 

 other vegetable matter Mercerizing wool. 



THERE are a great many different varieties of this most important 

 textile fibre, from the superfine Merino wool, possessing a spinning 

 quality of yo's to loo's, to the coarse, long Lincoln wool, the 

 spinning quality of which is from 36's to 40*8. 



Wool possesses all the qualities which go to make it a perfect 

 textile fibre. It has sufficient length of staple to enable it to be 

 spun, and when the fibre is examined with a powerful microscope 

 it reveals numerous saw-like edges all round it. These saw-like 

 edges give to wool the power of felting, a quality which very few 

 other textile fibres possess. The saw-like edges of one fibre fit 

 into those of another, giving the material a closely matted or felted 

 appearance. This felting property of wool is seen in woollen felt 

 hats, also in fine woollen cloths such as are used for suitings. 

 The finer the wool the better its felting qualities, because it has 

 more serrations and saw-like edges per inch than the coarse 

 quality wool. Fine wools are usually very short in the staple, 

 while the stronger or coarser wools are much longer. Coarse 

 wools, such as the Lincoln, Leicester, and Cross-bred, generally 

 have a brilliant lustre. Fine wools do not attain the brilliancy of 

 the coarse for the following reasons. Owing to the large number 

 of scales or saw-like edges which all fine wools possess, the 



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