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The tow – the short fibres that
are produced during scutching or when hackling – are
also processed for the textile industry. Hackled tow
is especially popular as it makes for cleaner, fine
tow. Tow spinning comprises the following four steps:
carding, preparing and combing, doubling and drafting,
spinning.
Carding
In the carding process the fibres are mechanically
untangled, separated and formed into slivers. The
card for linen is principally the same as for wool.
It consists of a large cylinder that is surrounded
by card points; each point being made up of a worker
roller (a slowly turning cylinder) and a card stripper.
The raw materials are mixed in variable proportions
according to the quality required for the yarn.
Preparation
and combing
After carding, the slivers are fed through an intersecting
; it is also possible to use warp gills. To prepare
tow for combing it generally only needs to undergo
this process twice.
Doubling and drafting
After combing the sliver of tow moves on towards a
series of drafting frames, of intersecting or warp
gills type in order to undergo doubling and drafting.
After three runs the weight is even and a count suitable
for spinning is obtained.
Spinning
Tow spinning is carried out with the same processes
and equipment that is used for long fibre flax. However,
the three processes are more differentiated in regard
to the fineness in the yarn count.
•
Wet spinning
• Semi-wet spinning
• Dry spinning
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