Wool fibre microdamage caused by opening processes. Part V: the effect of compressive damage on fibre strength

An investigation is reported in which minute cracks were initiated on the surface of wool fibres by pressing a blade indentor to seven different penetration depths in a controlled manner. The breaking strength of the damaged fibre was then measured with a sensitive transducer system. The reduction in fibre breaking load caused by indenting these fibres to different penetration depths demonstrates the weakening effect of cracks and compressional deformations and supports previous findings showing that microdamage caused by processing can weaken wool fibres.