Prioritising Yarn Quality Via Varying Top Roller Hardness: A Fuzzy Application

Abstract

In recent years, the spinning or yarn manufacturing sector has seen remarkable technological advancements, emphasizing high-quality yarn production, especially for cotton combed ring spun yarns. In the case of better quality ring spun combed yarn, each part of the ring frame is significant. To fulfil this issue, this study focuses on understanding the impact of the drafting roller hardness on cotton-combed ring-spun yarn quality. It delves into how ten top and bottom roller hardness combinations influence yarn quality parameters. The cotton combed yarns underwent rigorous testing after spinning on ring frames with varying drafting roller hardness. Key quality parameters studied included yarn Imperfection Index (IPI), Unevenness (Ue%), Hairiness (Hi), Elongation at break (Eb%), and Count Strength Product (CSP), and Tenacity (Te). The primary insight was that extreme roller hardness adversely affects all parameters except Elongation at the break value obtained for the shore hardness value of 80/83. Yarns produced using medium-hardness rollers showcased fewer imperfections due to more consistent fibre flow and minimized drafting slippages, resulting in an even twist. These findings are pivotal for the yarn manufacturing industry, hinting at potential refinements in production methods. The usage of the Fuzzy DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) methodology also determined that Te CSP) and IPI values significantly influence the combed yarn quality when adjusting roller hardness, whereas Hi is the least influential. Therefore, this study offers twofold insights: determining the optimal roller hardness and identifying the most affected quality parameters.