What is Extraction of Wool?

A material, which is composed of thin and continuous strands is known as fibre. Fibre can be classified into – natural fibre and synthetic fibre. Fibres obtained from plants and animals are known as natural fibres. Synthetic fibres are man-made fibres, which are prepared from raw materials (petroleum) called as petrochemicals. Examples of natural fibres include – cotton and wool. Examples of synthetic fibres include – nylon, polyester, etc.

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Wool is a natural animal fibre obtained from sheep, goats, yak, camel, etc. All these animals have an outer covering of hair, which is shaved off to obtain wool fibres. Animal fibres are naturally obtained from animals. Some animals that live in cold places generally develop a thick coat of hair on their body. This coating helps the animals to trap air in it and keep them warm as air is a poor conductor of heat. Air trapped by the hair on the body of the animals does not let the warmth escape from the body. Hence, this thick covering of hair on animal bodies protects them from cold.

History of Clothing

Steps for Extraction of Wool from Sheep

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From sheep

Sheep hair has two types of fibres – beard hair and skin hair. The skin hair provides the fibre to make wool. The process of making fibre into wool follows a series of processes:

Shearing → Scouring → Sorting → Dyeing → Straightening, Rolling and Combing

Shearing

This is the first step of processing fibre into wool. In this method, the fleece of the sheep along with a thin layer of skin is removed. This process is done in spring weather as sheep do not require the outer skin to keep them warm. Shearing is mostly done by machines or sometimes by hands.

Scouring

After the shearing process, the sheared hair is washed in big tanks to remove grease, dust, and dirt by automatic machines. This process of washing sheared hair is known as scouring.

Sorting

In sorting, hairs of different textures and types are sorted. Now we can differentiate between low and good quality fibres. The good quality fibres are used for clothes and the lower quality is used for making rugs. The fleece is sorted according to type and texture.

Dyeing

This process involves the colouring of fibres in different colours as the natural fibre is generally white, black or brown.

Straightening, Rolling, and Combing

After the dyeing process, the fibres are straightened, rolled and combed into yarns. Wool made from fibres is further used for making a jumper, woollen clothes, etc.

Uses of Wool

People have been using wool for thousands of years for both functional and decorative purposes. This fibre has a number of advantages, including flexibility, durability, and water resistance. Products made from wool are:

Woollen clothes
Blankets
Boots
Saddle cloths
Horse Rugs
Seat covers

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What is scouring of wool?

The first mechanical method the wool goes through, to extract grease and soil from the fleece, is scouring or cleaning. Carbonising is special to the woollen method and, after scouring, breaks down any residual impurities.

What are the main sources of wool?

Wool comes from cattle, goats, yaks, and other beasts. These wool-yielding species wear fur on their bodies and their hair keeps them warm and wool is derived from these furry fibres.

Which disease is caused by the wool industry?

Anthrax is a synthetic illness commonly associated with wool textiles. At one time it was a great risk, particularly for wool sorters, but in the wool textile industry it was almost fully regulated as a consequence of: changes in production methods in exporting countries where anthrax is endemic.

Which type of wool is warmest?

Angora wool is extremely fluffy and has the highest thermal retention (two and a half times colder than sheep’s wool) of any natural fibre. It also has the greatest qualities of any natural fibre for moisture-wicking.

Which is the proper sequence in processing Fibre into wool?

The following are the various measures for converting fibres into wool: Shearing: the fleece of the sheep is removed from its body along with a thin layer of skin. Scouring: In tanks to collect grease, dust and dirt, the hair-sheared skin is cleaned vigorously. The fibres are straightened, combed, and rolled into yarn.