Greasy wool

Wool is the fibrous covering from sheep (1) and is by far the most important animal fiber used in textiles. World greasy wool production was 2,688,000 tons in 1994—1995, equivalent to 1,557,000 t clean (2) (Table 1). In 1994—1995, 1000.1 x 10 sheep produced 2, 688 x 10 t of greasy wool. The average clip of 2.69 kg/sheep produces 1.56 kg/sheep of clean wool (Tables 1 and 2). 

The overall objective of research under way as of ca 1997 is to develop a system of sale by description for fine and medium wools whereby the buyer is presented only with measured data on the principal characteristics of the raw wool, as well as an assessment of the less important characteristics by an independent skilled appraiser (8). A scheme for assessing the risk of the presence of colored fiber content in greasy wool has been proposed which depends on production parameters and on the age and sex of the sheep (5). Instmmentation and computer algorithms for the measurement of style and handle... 

In another study on wool, Batcheller et al. [2006] explore the effect of the scouring method on greasy wool. Two procedures are used the first is a modern commercial one and the second is based on an historic recipe using a stale urine solution. 

Spectra of the greasy wool are more complicated than in the previous study. In negative ion mode, different fatty acids, fatty alcohols and alkanes are detected, whereas the positive ion mode shows mainly the presence of cholesterol and the cholesterol oxidation product (Figure 15.6). These ions are attributed to the presence of wool wax on the surface of raw wool. 

Country Sheep ( 000 head) Greasy wool (t) Clean wool equivalent (t)... 

Table 9.6.4 Composition (%) of greasy wool. The micron limits for the three wool types are only orientative.

The wool content of greasy wool may be as low as 40 to 50% and the cost of the fiber ensures that there is a great interest for commercial purposes in measuring the yield — one definition of... 

Similar figures for SEC were also quoted by Connell and Norris [15] and again by Connell [16] for greasy wool. Only in this latter paper was the matter of validation seriously considered. Unfortunately, the SEP values obtained were so poor that the research effort was stopped. 

WRONZ has extended its calibration services to cover tops — a partly processed form of clean wool being essentially scoured wool plus lubricant. Greasy wool applications are also at an advanced stage of development. 

Two Australian standards exist to determine adhesion of greasy wool to antislip coating and to determine surface frictional properties of fabric manufactured from greasy wool. ... 

AS/NZS 4547.2 2004 Methods of testing wool packs for greasy wool - Adhesion of wool to anti-shp coating. 

Wool is traded as raw wool (greasy wool), scoured and carbonized wool, combed top, comber waste, offal, and as sheepskin. 

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