ASTM D6798-02(2018)

Standard Terminology Relating to Flax and Linen

SCOPE
1.1 This terminology covers definitions of technical terms related to flax and linen.  
1.2 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2018
• ICS: 01.040.59 - Textile and leather technology (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 59.060.10 - Natural fibres
• Technical Committee: D13 - Textiles
• Drafting Committee: D13.17 - Bast Fibers and Plants

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6798-02(2013)e2 - Standard Terminology Relating to Flax and Linen
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Refers: ASTM D123-17 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2017
• Refers: ASTM D123-15b - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2015
• Refers: ASTM D123-15a - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2015
• Refers: ASTM D123-15 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2015
• Refers: ASTM D7879-13 - Standard Test Method for Determining Flax Fiber Widths Using Image Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2013
• Refers: ASTM D123-13ae1 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2013
• Refers: ASTM D123-13a - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2013
• Refers: ASTM D123-13 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 15-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM D123-12e1 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2012
• Refers: ASTM D123-12 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2012
• Refers: ASTM D123-09 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2009
• Refers: ASTM D123-09e1 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2009
• Refers: ASTM D123-09e2 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2009
• Refers: ASTM D123-07 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2007

Overview

ASTM D6798-02(2018): Standard Terminology Relating to Flax and Linen establishes a comprehensive set of definitions for technical terms associated with flax and linen. Developed by ASTM International, this terminology standard is aligned with global principles on standardization set forth by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. By promoting a unified language, the standard supports effective communication, quality control, and research across the flax and linen industries worldwide.

Key Topics

The standard defines and clarifies essential terms relevant to the processing, analysis, and application of flax and linen, including:

• Flax-Related Processes:

  • Cottonizing - Treating flax fiber for compatibility with cotton spinning systems.
  • Decorticating - Mechanically separating fiber bundles from straw.
  • De-seeding - Removing seeds and related structures from flax plants.
  • Breaking - Crushing flax stems to release fiber bundles.
  • Scutching - Separating long line fiber from shives and tow after breaking.
  • Hackling and Combing - Cleaning, aligning, and refining flax fibers for textile production.

• Retting Methods:

  • Dew Retting - Laying flax straw on soil for natural decomposition.
  • Water Retting - Immersing flax in water to aid fiber separation.
  • Enzyme Retting - Applying enzymes under controlled conditions to accelerate retting.
  • Under-retting and Over-retting - Indicating insufficient or excessive fiber decomposition.

• Material Classifications:

  • Bast Fibers - Fibers located in the phloem of the flax stem.
  • Tow - Mixed bundles of flax fibers with lengths up to 50 cm.
  • Long Line - Fiber bundles longer than 50 cm.
  • Ultimate Fiber - Individual bast fibers.
  • Shives and Straw - Woody plant parts remaining after fiber removal.

• Product Distinctions:

  • Linen - Yarn or fabric comprised solely of flax fibers.
  • Linen Blend - Textiles made from flax mixed with other fibers.
  • Trash - Non-fibrous material within flax fiber.

Applications

The terminology outlined in ASTM D6798-02(2018) enhances:

• Textile Manufacturing: Ensures consistent processing and quality control throughout flax fiber preparation, spinning, and weaving.
• Quality Assessment: Provides reliable definitions for test methods and specifications, crucial for laboratory analysis and verification.
• International Trade: Facilitates clear communication between global stakeholders in the flax and linen industry, reducing misinterpretation in commercial contracts and regulatory compliance.
• Academic and Industrial Research: Supports precise reporting and reproducibility in studies involving flax fiber properties, processing technologies, and textile development.
• Product Development: Assists manufacturers developing innovative linen or blended products by clarifying raw material properties and processing terminology.

Related Standards

Professionals referencing ASTM D6798-02(2018) may also consult the following key standards:

• ASTM D123: Terminology Relating to Textiles, providing definitions across the broader textile sector.
• ASTM D7879: Test Method for Determining Flax Fiber Widths Using Image Analysis, essential for fiber dimensional analysis.

Additional standards relevant to flax and linen processing or testing can be found in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards and through the official ASTM website (www.astm.org).

Keywords: ASTM D6798, flax, linen, technical terminology, textile standards, flax fiber processing, linen manufacturing, retting, cottonizing, scutching, international standard, ASTM International

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6798 − 02 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Terminology Relating to
Flax and Linen
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6798; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope cottonizing, n— in flax, the processing of flax fiber so as to
make it suitable for use in the cotton spinning system.
1.1 This terminology covers definitions of technical terms
related to flax and linen.
decorticating, n— in flax, the process of mechanically sepa-
1.2 This international standard was developed in accor- rating fiber bundles from straw.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
de-seeding, n—in flax, the process of removing seeds and
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
seed-holding structures from plants.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
dew retting, n—in flax, the process of pulling or cutting flax
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
straw and leaving on the soil for a period of time to allow
partial degradation of straw to effect retting.
2. Referenced Documents
enzyme retting, n—in flax, the process of mechanically adding
2.1 ASTM Standards:
enzyme formulations under precise conditions to pulled or
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
cut flax straw for a period of time to effect retting.
D7879 Test Method for Determining Flax Fiber Widths
fiber bundle, n— in flax, group of ultimate fibers which are
Using Image Analysis
held together in the flax stem by pectins, lignins or any
combination thereof.
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
flax, n—the generic name for plants that are botanically
average fiber width (µm), n—the arithmetic mean width of a classified as Linum usitatissimum, which are cultivated for
selected group of fibers in a two-dimensional image plane.
seed and/or fiber.
DISCUSSION—The selected group of fibers is dependent upon the
hackling, n—in flax, the process of cleaning and aligning
capturing device and software parameters as set by the opeator. D7879
long-line fibers to improve fineness and remove non-fibrous
bast fibers, n— in flax stems, fibers found in the layer of
materials and short fibers.
phloem of the flax stem between the inner xylem tissue and
linen, n—a yarn or fabric made solely from flax fibers.
the epidermis tissue.
linen blend, n—a yarn or fabric made from a combination of
breaking, n—in flax stems, the crushing of the structure of the
flax and other fibers.
stem; loosening the bond between the fiber bundles and
shives and breaking the shives into short pieces to facilitate
long line, n—in flax, flax fiber bundles that have a minimum
its removal.
length of 50 cm.
combing, n—in flax, the processing of tow so as to produce
over-retting, n— in flax, indicates that decomposition has
tops or silver which have the staple length and width suitable
caused excessive deterioration of bast fibers. (See retting and
for use in the worsted spinning system.
underretting)
retting, n—in flax, the process of partial biological or chemical
decomposition of pectins and other components whi
...