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How wool made

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How wool made
 
Wool is a unique natural fibre that obtained when animals sheared or combed out. It obtained from goats, camels, rabbits, alpacas, but sheep wool and fabric materials made on its basis are of industrial importance.
 
From research etc. jealous cultures and archaeological excavations we know, that the wool products meet even the inhabitants of Babylon, in the 4th millennium BC.
 
World wool production
Despite the variety of animals from which raw wool brained, sheep wool received the greatest recognition and popularity. Its production volume is 95% of all produced fibres. All thanks to the sheep, from which a fleece weighing from 3 to 8 kg is obtained for one shearing.
 
Sheep breeding developed on all continents, where there are meadows and places for grazing animals. They are adapted for life in plains, mountains and arid regions.
 
The leaders in wool production in the world market are Australia (up to 25% of the volume of products received), China and the USA, respectively, 18 and 17%, as well as New Zealand up to 11%.
 
Shearing
Cut carried out in warm weather, the air temperature does not fall below 10 to C, because the animal without protective hair can catch a cold and die. Sheep with uniform wool sheared once a year, and with heterogeneous coarse and semi-coarse wool twice - in spring and early autumn before the onset of cold weather.
 
Homogeneous wool consists of down, it is even in length and thickness of the hairs. Rough non-uniform consists of three types of fibres - fluff, transitional hair and awn.
 
You cannot be late with shearing sheep, as animals suffer from overheating, they lose their appetite, they lose weight, feed their offspring poorly. Moreover, in the fall, long wool becomes clogged with burdock, plant awns, straw, dry grass, which reduces the quality of the fleece and increases losses during combing.
 
Animals sheared manually with scissors or using automatic machines. Despite the high speed of the shearers (sometimes up to 180 animals per day), this is a laborious and demanding process that takes up to two weeks on large farms.
 
Sorting and cleaning wool
The cover removed from the sheep spread on the table and divided into parts, depending on their quality. Separate heavily soiled areas with different hair colour and length. The least valuable part from the legs and shins is set aside separately. Rough felt products and carpets made from it.
 
Wool is heterogeneous in structure, debris, grease; dirt can be up to 30% of its weight. Therefore, it thoroughly cleaned, washed in an alkaline bath with the addition of soap and soda ash. To remove water, it rolled through special rollers.
 
The washed fleece sent to special carding machines, on which small combs are located. The fibres unravel, become even, uniform in length.
 
Spinning and weaving
The fibber consists of keratin protein, has a non-uniform scaly structure, which provides a reliable weave when forming a woollen cloth. On their basis, such well-known types of fabric as velour, drape, boson, boucle, rating, gabardine and other types of knitwear produced.
 
Wool fibres are easily intertwined due to their natural crimp and scaly. In the spinning process, yarn obtained, which is wound on bobbins and sent to weaving machines to obtain fabric.
 
In the production of woollen fabrics, twill, plain and combed weaves are used. To obtain a thin, delicate, durable fabric, carded spinning is used, but fabric can only made from long fibres with the same thickness.
 
Properties of wool fibres
Wool fibres are a natural material with unique properties. They produce delicate, soft, thin, breathable and hygroscopic fabric and knitwear. Moreover, felted wool used to make carpets, shoes, outerwear, dresses, linings, shoe insoles, and accessories.
 
Sheep wool fibber has a hollow structure. This determines the low heat conductivity and high hygroscopicity of wool products. Low thermal conductivity allows products to keep warm and protect from cold.
 
Hygroscopicity in normal conditions reaches 17%; they can absorb up to 50% moisture and remain dry to the touch. The fabric does not wrinkle or electrify, perfectly absorbs sweat and allows the body to breathe.
 
Due to its porous structure, woollen items allow air to pass through, regulating body heat exchange.
 
An environmentally friendly natural fibber does not emit harmful substances, is not toxic and does not burn.
 
Wool contains the natural fat lanolin, which used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, skin rashes; it softens the skin, reduces puffiness, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
 
The hair villi have a gentle massage effect on the skin, which improves blood circulation, promotes the regeneration of new cells, and cleanses the top layer of keratinized particles.
 
Benefits of wool
Wool is valued for its naturalness, durability, ability to retain heat, good hygroscopicity, crease resistance.
High heat-shielding properties, low thermal conductivity of things retains heat even in severe frosts.

Due to their structure, the fibres are highly hygroscopic and have good air exchange. When walking in wool clothes or sleeping under a blanket, we do not sweat, the skin breathes.

Things tend to absorb harmful substances from the air, such as formaldehydes. To clean products from them, it is enough to ventilate and dry it in the open air.

Natural tortuosity increases the elasticity of products, makes them soft, durable, and prevents dirt.

Sheep wool does not cause allergies.

Wool things do not wrinkle, resistant to stretching, restore their original shape and size, wear-resistant, easy to wash in warm water.

For people suffering from rheumatism, arthritis, osteochondrosis, it recommended to wear woollen clothes or bandages, wool has medicinal properties.
 
The disadvantages of woollen items include their high cost and moth damage. They require careful care and respect. Subject to the rules of storage and regular ventilation in the fresh air, the products will delight you with their colour for a long time, warm them up and give a sea of ​​positive emotions.