An Investigation by Fractography into the Mechanism of Fibre Breakage in Rotor Spinning

• Published in: The Journal of The Textile Institute Vol. 90; no. 1; pp. 47 - 58
• Main Authors: Ishtiaque, S. M., Bhortakke, M. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.1999
• ISSN: 0040-5000; 1754-2340
• DOI: 10.1080/00405009908658690

An investigation was carried out into the mechanism of polyester-fibre breakage during opening in the rotor-spinning machine. The broken-fibre ends were observed under the Projectina and a scanning electron microscope. A tracer-fibre technique was used to identify the broken ends of the fibres. The effects on the mechanism of fibre breakage of fibre length, linear density, and cross-section, the opening-roller type, and speed were also studied. The broken-fibre ends are broadly classified into those broken by direct contact with the wire point (direct breaks) and those broken without direct contact with the wire point (indirect breaks). The role of fibre entanglements is considered to be vital for causing indirect breaks, and a mechanism for the occurrence of such breaks is proposed. The direct and indirect breaks are further classified into three classes each on the basis of details of the broken-fibre ends observed. Direct breaks may be a wedge-shaped end type of break, a swollen-end type of break, or a perpendicular-cut-end type of break. Indirect breaks may be a V-notch type of break, a tail/axial-split type of break, or an extended-tapered-end type of break. Direct breaks are found to constitute a major part of the total number of broken fibres. Although fibre length and opening-roller speed seem to have little influence on the proportions of various types of breakage, trilobal fibres and a saw-toothed opening roller give a greater proportion of direct breaks than circular fibres and a pin-type roller, respectively.