Fiber Verification
Cashmere verification is the laboratory process that authenticates raw down against sheep wool and bovine hair under high magnification. Commercial buyers rely on microscopic scale pattern analysis to protect high value cashmere batches from adulteration. Scrutiny of the medulla structure distinguishes true capra hircus down from coarser fibres before spinning mills purchase raw lots.
Scale Morphology
Cuticular scale counts per millimetre separate fine down from inferior animal hair during initial sorting. Cashmere fibres display smooth coronal scales with non-projecting margins, whereas sheep wool exhibits serrated margins that catch during processing. Laboratory technicians measure scale height and shaft diameter to confirm species origin prior to carding operations.
Scouring Loss
Raw fleece cleaning removes grease, dirt, and vegetable matter to establish the clean yield percentage for the invoice. Mills calculate clean fiber content by weighing dried samples before and after chemical extraction in petroleum ether. Excessive weight reduction signals high contamination levels that reduce the net value of incoming shipments.
Contamination Tolerance
Quality protocols establish maximum allowable limits for guard hair admixture within fine down deliveries. Processing machinery jams when coarse guard hairs exceed specific volume thresholds in spinning preparation lines. Inspectors reject lots failing microscopic purity checks to maintain final garment softness standards.
