Comparative Analysis of Methods of Measuring Fibre and Filament Diameters

Abstract

A comparative analysis of methods of determination of polycaproamide, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polypropylene fibre and (filament) and monofilament diameters is reported. The following methods are examined: calculation with the linear density and density of the fibre; microscopic; shadow and projection on a screen; diffraction; micrometric; close winding of monofilaments and measurement of the length of the wound section with calculation of the number of filaments. Each method of measuring the fibre (filament) and monofilament diameters applies to a certain fibre size and has its own limitations; the use of methods outside of the established applicability limits will produce significant systematic errors. The values of the errors in measuring the fibre diameter by the different methods are estimated.