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Title: Update on Standards for Flax Fiber

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Submitted to: Flax Institute Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 28, 2004
Publication Date: August 1, 2004
Citation: Akin, D.E. 2004. Update On Standards For Flax Fiber. Proceedings Of The 60th Flax Institute Of The United States. P. 44-50.

Interpretive Summary: Standards do not exist to help support an emerging flax fiber industry in the US. Research has been undertaken through collaboration of several research ARS and university laboratories on test methods for fiber properties of interest to industries. A report of this work is given to the 60th meeting of the Flax Institute of the United States. This manuscript is important to inform producers, scientists, and potential users of work on flax fibers to support a new US industry.

Technical Abstract: Since 1999, the Flax and Linen subcommittee (D 13.17) of the Textile Committee (D 13) of ASTM International has been active in developing a series of standards to judge flax fibers. Historically, flax for linen has been subjectively evaluated by experienced graders using organoleptic tests. At least for some industries using flax fiber, little or no testing is done. Progress has been made in initiating a series of standard test methods that would allow flax to be objectively characterized for properties important for fiber quality and for processing efficiency. Currently, "Standard Terminology Relating to Flax and Linen" (with the ASTM International designation D- 6798-02) and "Standard Test Method for Color Measurement of Flax Fiber" (D- 6961-03) have been accepted and are listed as official standards. "Standard Test Method for Assessing Clean Flax Fiber Fineness" will likely be approved in 2004 and become a standard. "Standard Test Method for the Measurement of Shives in Retted Flax" is making its way through subcommittee balloting and should be submitted for full Committee vote later in 2004. The overall goal is to have a series of standard test methods in place to support an emerging US flax fiber industry as well as provide for more uniform imported raw flax fiber.

   
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