Measuring staple strength of New Zealand Romney and Corriedale wools

Abstract

Abstract Two methods of measuring New Zealand Romney and Corriedale wools for staple strength were compared. There was a good correlation (r = 0.92) between staple strength measurements of the same midside wools using either a simple manual tester or a commercial tensile tester. Staple strengths standardised by either the clean mass of wool broken or the more rapidly determined greasy linear density at the position of break were also highly correlated. The more rapid method could be used instead of conventional methods without major changes in the rankings of the wools, although the absolute staple strength values obtained may differ according to the method of standardisation used. A moderately close relationship was found between staple strength and barbe (fibre length after carding).