Mass Fraction
Raw fleece mass estimation determines clean wool content during scouring when grease, dirt, and vegetable matter separate from animal hair. Scouring plants measure this metric by taking core samples from incoming bales before washing them in hot aqueous detergent baths. Dried residual weights establish the exact yield percentage for commercial invoicing between growers and primary processors.
Yield Calculation
Commercial transactions rely upon standard moisture regain adjustments applied to the dry fiber mass after scouring. Certified laboratories deduct grease weights according to internationally recognized testing protocols established by the wool industry. Trading partners settle accounts based upon these laboratory certificates rather than gross delivery weights because raw fleeces carry variable moisture.
Commercial Tolerance
Mill operators dispute settlement weights whenever excessive vegetable contamination remains trapped inside the carded web after initial processing. Buyers specify maximum allowable impurities within purchase contracts to prevent paying fiber prices for dried botanical debris. Rejection occurs automatically when core testing reveals contamination levels exceeding agreed contractual thresholds.
Processing Limit
Spun yarn regularity depends directly upon the total absence of residual suint and wax within the delivered top. Carding machines break down remaining burrs into microscopic fragments that resist subsequent chemical removal during piece dyeing. Garment manufacturers therefore reject finished fabrics showing speck defects originating from inadequate scouring procedures at the raw material stage.
