COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FREQUENCY POLYGONS OF WOOL FINENESS OF UNIMODAL AND MIXED WOOL

Abstract

The distribution curves of fibers with wool fineness are a graphic expression of the
variation series obtained by measuring the diameter of a large number of wool fiber. Such
curves are important in sheep breeding. They can serve as a specific characteristic of a sheep
breed or type of wool. They can be used to classify wool, and also to optimize the process of
processing raw wool into yarn. Therefore, it is important to know what features frequency
polygons of unimodal and mixed wool fineness have, depending on the structure of the fibers
which form it. The studies were carried out on wool samples taken from the side of animals of
different breeds with the help of OFDA-2000 instrument. Fiber distribution curves were
constructed at a class interval of 1 μm, which is used in the data processing algorithm on the
OFDA-2000 instrument. Studies made it possible to determine that the distribution curves of
wool fibers of sheep with unimodal and mixed wool have a specific look and are relatively
stable for different groups of wool. Breed, sex and age of sheep, natural, climatic and
economic conditions in which animals are raised, do not affect the shape of the fiber
distribution curve. The average diameter and equalization of the fibers in diameter in the
staple, as well as the presence and ratio of fibers of different morphological types are decisive
in the formation of the shape of curve. The curves vary depending on the combination of
these factors. All frequency polygons of wool fineness of unimodal wool are similar to
symmetrical shape. Curves of mixed wool are always asymmetrical. They have 1 or 2
vertices. Configurations of wool fineness curves of mixed wool reflect the specific proportion
of fibers of different morphological types.