5—THE EFFECTS ON WOOL FIBRES OF COMPRESSION FOR HIGH-DENSITY PACKAGING

Abstract

Laboratory studies have been made of the effect of compression to high densities on the breaking strength of both clean and greasy 64s Merino wool. Within the range of wool samples and pressures tested, compression of clean wool did not impair the strength of wool fibres. Sand particles mixed with clean wool led to extreme fibre damage at high pressures, but greasy wool with sand added was compressed to a density four times that of the standard Australian bale (i.e., to 60 lb/ft3) with no loss of strength. It is concluded that damage to fine wools by high-density packing is unlikely.