Count of Yarn | Yarn Count Types

Count of Yarn

The yarn count is important to produce a specific quality of yarn. Generally, when we get an order of finished products, we have to calculate the count of yarn. Besides, it is important to give a specific yarn count as a pre-condition for a producer. It also shows the ability of a producer. So it has great importance in production. Lastly, let us know about yarn count and its application in yarn production.

Yarn Count:

The yarn count is a numerical expression that defines its fineness or coarseness identically. It also expresses whether the yarn is thick or thin. Moreover, a definition of yarn is given by the Textile Institute: “Count is a number indicating the mass per unit length or the length per unit mass of yarn”.

Yarn Count Types:

Yarn count measures in two ways. They are-

1. Direct System (weight/length)
2. Indirect System (length/weight)

Direct Yarn Count Formula

In this system, the yarn count expresses the number of weight units in one length unit. Thus, the higher the count, the coarser the yarn. When this method is used to express the count of man-made fiber, jute, Silk, etc. By the following formula, the count is measured.

N = (W/l) / (L/w)

Where,

• N  = The Yarn count
• W = The weight of the sample
• L  = The length of the sample
• l   = The unit of length
• w  = The unit of weight

Tex, Denier, Pounds per spindle is the unit that is expressed in the direct system. The following are the direct yarn count systems. They are-

1. Tex: The yarn number or count in the Tex system is the weight in grams of 1000m or 1 km of yarn.
2. Denier: The yarn count in the denier system is the weight in grams of 9000m or 9 km of yarn.
3. Pounds per Spyndle: The yarn count in pounds per spindle is the weight in pounds of 14,400yards of yarn. Jute count is expressed by this system.

Indirect Yarn Count System

In this system, the yarn count expresses the number of lengths in one weight unit. Thus higher the count, the finer the yarn. By the following formula, yarn count is expressed in an indirect system. This is cotton yarn count system which is expressed by an indirect system.

N = (L/w) / (W/l)

Where,

• N  = The Yarn count
• W = The weight of the sample
• L  = The length of the sample
• l   = The unit of length
• w  = The unit of weight

English count, Metric count, Worsted are expressed in an indirect system. They are-

1. English: It is defined as the number of hanks (840 yards) per pounds. It is denoted by Ne.
2. Metric: It is defined as the number of hanks (1000 m) per kg. It is defined by Nm.
3. Worsted: It is defined as the number of hanks (560 yards) per pounds.

Anyhow, conversion is possible between two systems.

Now I will discuss jute count, which is expressed in pounds per spindle. In this system 14,400 yards = 1 Spyndle. If we found 9 pounds in 1 spyndle then its count will be 9. In this system higher the yarn count coarser the yarn.

Jute count can be calculated in another two ways:

• Tex method: Number of grams in 1000 m is that’s count. Say if we found 70 grams in 1000 m then its count is 70. Tex can be converted into Pounds per spyndle or Pounds per spyndle can be converted into Tex by the following way.

1. Tex/34.45 = Pounds/Spyndle
2. Pounds/Spyndle*34.45 = Tex

In this method, we can calculate jute count. Here 300 yards is equal to 1 Lea. The number of Lea in one pound is recommended its count. It is expressed in the following ways:

Lea Count= 48/ (Pounds/Spyndle)

In sum, different instruments are used to measure yarn count. However, I will try to discuss different count testing instruments in my next post. Eventually, the yarn count is an important part of the Quality control department. So we should have brief knowledge about the count of yarn.