Testing of Tops and Sliver

To verify wool quality and quantity on consignments of tops and sliver, SGS provides buyers with test reports and certificates to International Wool and Textile Organization (IWTO) standards.

Test requirements often include:

• Condition (moisture content) 
• Fiber diameter (diameter of wool) 
• Fiber length 
• Residues (dichloromethane-soluble matter, fatty matter, nonyl phenol ethoxylate (NPEO) detergents) 
• Sliver weight/density 
• Sliver composition (blends) 
• Sliver quality (neps, dark fibers, medullated fibers, vegetable matter)

We can also provide wool measurements on properties such as color, evenness and fiber strength. In addition, we offer specialised testing for conformity assessment on wool tops and polyester-wool blend tops.

While independent testing is generally uncommon in the industry – primarily because sampling is best undertaken throughout production, demanding extended independent supervision – it is routinely required for specific countries (e.g. Iran).

If you need independent sampling and testing of wool tops and sliver, contact SGS now.

• Wool Testing About Us

  Wool Testing Services has been operating in New Zealand as an independent wool quality certification body for over 40 years.
  Wool Testing About Us (166 KB)
• Tops and Sliver

  SGS Wool Testing Services issues independent test reports and certificates on consignments of tops and sliver where they are required by buyers. These are routinely required for some specific countries such as Iran.
  Tops and Sliver (214 KB)
• Conditioned Mass

  Conditioned mass is determined by sampling the consignment and determining the actual regain of the sample by oven-drying.
  Conditioned Mass (125 KB)
• Length After Carding

  The Length After Carding (LAC) test emulates the harshest aspects of commercial semi-worsted processing, and has proven extremely reliable.
  Length After Carding (135 KB)
• Mean Fibre Diameter Testing

  Mean fibre diameter is normally the most important determinant of raw wool price (Info-bulletin 3.1). Until recently, it was mostly certified using the airflow method detailed in IWTO-28.
  Mean Fibre (253 KB)

• Fibre Diameter Distribution

  There has been rapidly increasing interest in diameter distribution data, which is of potential interest to the quality of spinning, as well as indicating the comfort characteristics of apparel wools.
  Fibre Diameter Distribution (132 KB)
• Diameter Length Profile

  The average fibre diameter at increments along the length of wool staples may be important for managing sheep flocks, and in the future may assist in predicting processing performance.
  Diameter Length Profile (123 KB)
• Wool Colour

  Traditionally, the colour of wool has been expressed in terms of tristimulus values X, Y and Z. The numbers can be thought of in terms of the brightness of the red, green and blue components. In practice we talk of Y as representing brightness, and the difference between Y and Z (Y-Z) as yellowness.
  Wool Colour (558 KB)
• Residual Ash and Grease

  Scouring removes most of the unwanted material on greasy wool, but still leaves a very small percentage of dust and residual grease on the fibre.
  Residual Ash and Grease (244 KB)
• Staple Length & Strength

  Staple strength indicates how a wool will survive the rigours of processing. Staple length is directly related to combing length, and this therefore is one of the primary specifications.
  Staple Length & Strength (163 KB)

BulkBulkBulk is the ability of a fibre assembly to hold air, or its space-filling capability. ...

Info Bulletin IndexWool TestingWool Testing Info Bulletin IndexInfo-bulletins are concise summaries of information relating to specific tests or subjects related to wool testing. Check out our Info-bulletins now. ...

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All 12 resources

• 

  Wool Testing About Us

  published 02/28/12

  PDF

• 

  Tops and Sliver

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Conditioned Mass

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Length After Carding

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Mean Fibre

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Fibre Diameter Distribution

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Diameter Length Profile

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Wool Colour

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Residual Ash and Grease

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Staple Length & Strength

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Bulk

  published 02/29/12

  PDF

• 

  Info Bulletin Index

  published 04/03/12

  PDF