Measurement of Fiber Orientation

A method is described for estimating the extent of fiber orientation in lap, sliver, etc., thus making possible a quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of carding and drawing operations in aligning the fibers. In principle, the method involves clamping the sample in a special device, cutting out a section of fixed length ( e.g., 1/2 in.), and straightening out the fibers by combing. Then, all fibers found to be longer than 1/2 in. must have been out of alignment in some way in the original section. From the ratio of the portion in excess of 1/2 in. to 1/2-in. portion an orientation index is calculated. This index serves to arrange the samples in the following expected order of increasing orientation: card sliver, drawing sliver, finisher drawing sliver, and roving. Combed roving shows almost complete parallelism. Applications of the method are suggested.