ANALYSIS AND ENHANCEMENT OF CARDING AND SPINNING Investigators

Currently, the process sequence for staple yarn manufacturing involves about ten individual steps. In this project, the research team worked on a new technology to produce staple yarns in two major steps: opening/cleaning, and yarn formation by Card-Spinning. The novel yarn formation system consists of a card fitted with a web dividing device and multiple spinning nozzles. This novel system represents a brand new approach to staple yarn manufacturing, and a fundamental analysis of the system is conducted in this study. The current project encompasses the following objectives: (1) To analyze and regulate fiber transport to the spinning heads to achieve better reliability and product uniformity, (2) To stu dy the limiting factors affecting the operating range (e.g., yarn count range, types of raw materials) and to develop solutions to overcome such barriers, (3) To characterize the structures of yarns from this spinning system and to analyze the yarn performance characteristics, and (4) To work with industry partners to identify and develop applications for the new yarns. During the period covered by this report, we have made significant progress in on -line web uniformity monitoring, understanding the effect of yarn processing parameters on yarn structures and properties, extending the operating range (especially yarn delivery speed) of the system, and improving its operating reliability.