Textile Testing Laboratory installs state-of-the-art equipment

Textile Testing Laboratory installs state-of-the-art equipment

Uster S 4 in operation at CTFT

A new Uster S 4 yarn evenness tester has arrived in the CSIRO Textile Testing Laboratory and has been commissioned.The recent installation and commission of the USTER TESTER S 4 introduces cutting edge technology to CSIRO Textile & Fibre Technologys Testing Laboratory.The tester has a large number of features not previously available with evenness testing and provides great assistance in analysing the many test parameters now provided by the test machine.The Uster 4 tester measures: Yarn Evenness

Yarn Imperfections Yarn Hairiness Yarn Count

Yarn Diameter Yarn Structure Yarn Density Yarn Shape Yarn Trash Yarn Dust

The tester has the capability to test up to 24 individual yarns at one time and provide individual test results as well as a summary of mean results for each group.It can also test rovings, tops and slivers for the defined parameters.New testing parameters are available, automatically comparing all of the test results to USTER 2001 statistics for the relevant yarn type. The test reports highlight each result that is acceptable, borderline or outside established world Uster 2001 tolerances. The various parameters and their mathematical variations are measured using either capacitance or optical methods of determination.The unit while carrying out evenness testing also determines the direct yarn count of each sample tested.There are a large variety of test reports and data available depending on your needs or wishes. The Uster range of test reports are: U%A ratio of area of variation above and below the mean value expressed as a percentage of the total mass.CVm%The coefficient of variation of mass (capacitance method) as a percentage.This is measured over cut length 0.01m.This parameter can also be determined over cut lengths of 1, 3, 10 and 50m to look at various forms of periodic variation. IndexIndex of Irregularity which is the CV (actual)/CV (limit)Thin PlacesAt various values below the mean, -30%, -40%, -50%, -60%Thick PlacesAt various values above the mean, 35%, 50%, 70%, 100%NepsAt various sizes 140%, 200%, 280%, 400%Relative countActual yarn count can be expressed as tex or as a percentage deviation from stated count.Count 100mIs an absolute determination of yarn count determined by the gravimetric method.Relative Count+/-%Relative count determined by capacitive method.HairinessCorresponds to the total length of protruding fibres with in the measurement field of 0.01m.i.e. a Hairiness value of 4.0 is equivalent to a total protruding fibre length of 0.04m in a 0.01m measured yarn length.This is measured optically.Variation of HairinessIs a measure of Hairiness variation within the yarn.Standard deviation can also be determined over measured lengths of 0.01(normal), 0.1, 1, 3, 10, 50 m to look at hairiness trends along the yarn.2DOMean value of the yarns two dimensional diameter (in mm) over the entire test length of the yarn.CV2DCoefficient of variation of two dimensional diameters at a cut length of either 0.3 or 8 mm as a percentage.s2DStandard deviation of two dimensional diameter at 8mm cut length.CV FS.CV of Fine Structure. Indication of yarns roughness. It is the difference in irregularity between 0.3mm and 8mm.ShapeIndicates the average yarn roundness over entire measured length.1 = circular 0.5 = ellipse half as wide as long.Density.Mean density of yarn over entire measured length. This is a measure of yarns compactness.TrashTrash content of yarn expressed either as count /km or count/g.Number of trash particles greater than 500 micrometers in diameter. Mean TrashMean size of all detected trash particles.DustNumber of dust particles expressed as number/km or number/g.This measures dust particles less than 500 micrometers. Dust SizeMean size of all detected dust particles.

The test reports can also supply:A graphical trace of the mass variation of each or a combination of the samples tested highlighting the areas where imperfections have occurred.A graphical trace of the hairiness variation of each or a combination of the samples tested.A graphical trace of the optical diameters of each or a combination of samples.A spectrogram of the mass variation for each or a combination of samples.A spectrogram of the hairiness variations for each or a combination of samples.A Quality Profile for each tested yarn may also be printed out so that the test results can be easily compared to the USTER 2001 statistics for all parameters tested. This gives an instant graphical representation of how a tested yarn compares to world averages for similar yarns.

To enable the statistics to be effectively used the Testing Laboratory requires the following details on the yarns being tested.Fibre TypeQuality - micron/micronaireManufacturing method - Ring spun/Rotor, Combed/Carded etc.Nominal CountNominal Twist.

If you have any questions regarding the above information or use of the Uster S 4 Evenness testing equipment please contact the team at the Textile Testing Laboratory.