ASTM D861-95

Standard Practice for Use of the Tex System to Designate Linear Density of Fibers, Yarn Intermediates, and Yarns

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the use of the tex system to designate the linear density (number, or count) of fibers and of yarns made from any type of fiber or combination of fibers. It is also applicable to other textile materials, including yarn intermediates (slivers, rovings, tops, etc.), single or plied yarns, cords, and threads.
Note 1—The mass per unit length concept of linear density is applicable to any material which has a high ratio of length to cross section.
1.2 Conversion factors for various indirect and direct yarn numbers to exact tex equivalents can be found in Standard Tables D 2260.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Sep-2001
• ICS: 59.080.20 - Yarns
• Technical Committee: D13 - Textiles
• Drafting Committee: D13.58 - Yarns and Fibers

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D861-01 - Standard Practice for Use of the Tex System to Designate Linear Density of Fibers, Yarn Intermediates, and Yarns
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E337-15(2023) - Standard Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psychrometer (the Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Temperatures)
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D4849-21 - Standard Terminology Related to Yarns and Fibers
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D1244-98(2020) - Standard Practice for Designation of Yarn Construction
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 861 – 95
Standard Practice for
Use of the Tex System to Designate Linear Density of
Fibers, Yarn Intermediates, and Yarns
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 861; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers the use of the tex system to 3.1 Definitions:
designate the linear density (number, or count) of fibers and of 3.1.1 linear density, n.—mass per unit length; the quotient
yarns made from any type of fiber or combination of fibers. It obtained by dividing the mass of a fiber or yarn by its length.
is also applicable to other textile materials, including yarn 3.1.1.1 Discussion—It is common practice to determine the
intermediates (slivers, rovings, tops, etc.), single or plied yarns, “mass” of objects on beam balances or scales and call the result
cords, and threads. the “weight” of the object instead of the technically correct
term “mass” used in the definitions of “tex,” and “linear
NOTE 1—The mass per unit length concept of linear density is appli-
density.”
cable to any material which has a high ratio of length to cross section.
3.1.2 tex, n.—a unit for expressing linear density equal to
1.2 Conversion factors for various indirect and direct yarn
the mass in grams of 1 km of yarn, filament, fiber, or other
numbers to exact tex equivalents can be found in Standard
textile strand.
Tables D 2260.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—The terms kilotex, decitex, and millitex
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
are frequently used to express linear density. Conversion
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
factors from tex to these measures are contained in Tables D
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2260.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.3 For definitions of other textile terms used in this
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
practice, refer to Terminology D 123.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 The tex system has been approved for general use by the
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
International Organization for Standardization, Technical
D 2260 Tables of Conversion Factors and Equivalent Yarn
Committee 38 on Textiles (ISO/TC 38), which has also
Numbers Measured in Various Numbering Systems
recommended a list of rounded tex numbers for use with fibers
2.2 ISO Standards:
and all types of yarns. Conversion tables showing the rounded
ISO 1144 Textiles—Universal System for Designating Lin-
tex numbers corresponding to various numbers in different
ear Density (Tex System)
traditional systems are given in Tables D 2260 and ISO 2947.
ISO 2947 Textiles—Integrated Conversion Table for Re-
4.2 The tex system for designation of the linear density of
placing Traditional Yarn Numbers by Rounded Values in
fibers and yarns is a direct system based on mass per unit
the Tex System
length, M/L, and employs metric units of length and mass. The
2.3 Other Document:
tex unit, grams per kilometre (1000 m) has been approved by
Guide to Metrication for the Textile Industry
ISO/TC 38 for use with all fibers and all types of yarn. The
committee has also approved the use of kilotex and decatex
numb
...