VORTEX, a new type of yarn is produced by VORTEX spinning machine. It has developed for cotton & dramatically improved productivity evaluated with other conventional spinning system such as ring spinning, rotor spinning etc. It has been first introduced in 1997; MVS has made rapid improvement into short staple cotton and cotton-blend yarn markets for both knitting and weaving end-uses.

The major marketing feature of MVS was that it was capable of spinning uncombed cotton slivers into acceptable yarns at speeds that were significantly higher than with any other system. The yarn structure is different from jet-spun yarn with many more wrapper fibers, and in parts the vortex yarn resembles a two-fold yarn. There were concerns that there is excessive fiber loss using this spinning machine. But, even though the fiber loss may be about 8 percent, most of this is short fiber, which would not contribute to yarn quality.

Fig: Murata Vortex Spinning Technology

Vortex spinning can be viewed as a refinement of jet spinning, or a natural development in fasciated yarn technology. As in all other fasciated yarns, the structure of vortex yarn consists of a core of parallel fibres held together by wrapper fibres. This has been revealed by examining an untwisted vortex yarn sample under the Scanning Electron Microscope. Subsequently, the physical properties of vortex and air-jet yarns produced from different polyester cotton blends were compared. Results indicated that vortex yarns have tenacity advantages over air jet yarns, particularly at high cotton contents.

Cotton and cotton-blend MVS yarns typically have a smooth, low hairiness finishes and are consequently low-pilling.

Function of MVS to wool textiles

MVS yarn properties can be exploited by wool and wool blends to:

• reduce the costs of production
• make soft and low-pill wool blend fabrics.

Fabrics produced by MVS have different physical advantages over other short staple and worsted yarns.

MVS yarns have good abrasion and pilling resistance. Their smooth handling differentiates them from yarns spun on other systems. These characteristics make them highly suitable for a range of knitted or woven fabrics such as those used for interior textiles or lightweight blankets or next-to-skin apparel.

Trials

Two recent trials conducted by CSIRO examined the structure and properties of 100 per cent wool and wool-cotton blend (30 per cent wool and 70 per cent cotton), MVS yarns. The cotton-wool blend ratio was chosen on the basis of current market interest and suitability to processing on the MVS system.

The aim of these trials was to produce MVS yarns from which a soft handle woven or knitted fabric could be constructed.

Yarn structure was assessed using standard quality control tests such as twist, tenacity, evenness, hairiness, propensity for pilling and softness by subjective assessment according to a Friedman Analysis Pair wise Ranking test. Results of the trials indicated that MVS technology can be successfully adapted and applied to wool-blends. The cotton-wool blend yarn produced by MVS demonstrated:

• low hairiness
• lower fabric weight
• good resistance to pilling
• a significantly improved fabric handle.

Vortex Spun Yarn Vs Air-jet Spun Yarn

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the statistical significance of any differences observed between the properties of vortex and air-jet spun yarns. The ANOVA revealed that yarns made by the MVS had superior evenness, fewer thick places and lower hairiness values compared to those made by the MJS (Figure 2 and Table 3). Vortex yarns also presented Sheath Core Sheath Core A B 98 higher tenacity values for every blend ratio except for 100% polyester, where yarns from both machines had the same strength. As the cotton content increased in the blend, the difference between the tenacity of the yarn from the two systems also increased (Figure 3 and Table 4). In the case of yarn elongation, the outcome was the opposite. Vortex yarns exhibited lower elongation values compared to air-jet yarns; this offset gains in tenacity and resulted in an insignificant difference in their work of rupture values.

Fig: 1 Different types of yarn exhibit different structural figure.

Commercial product

A Tasmanian textile company, Waverley Australia Proprietary Limited, is using cotton-wool blend MVS yarns developed by CSIRO in summer-weight blankets.

Called SomerSoft, the blankets combine the warmth and resilience of wool with the comfort and easy care of cotton. The resulting product provides year round comfort with outstanding softness. Made of 70% combed cotton and 30 per cent wool, it is also machine washable. The product is selling internationally into the Asian and UK summer markets. You may know details about Murata Vortex Spinning Technology from their website.

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