ISO 1139:2025
(Main)Textiles — Designation of yarns
Textiles — Designation of yarns
This document specifies two methods of indicating the composition of yarns, whether single, folded, cabled or multiple wound. The notation comprises linear density indicated in the Tex system, number of filaments in filament yarns, direction and amount of twist, and number of folds. This document is not applicable to some special kinds of yarns, for example to fancy yarns, textured or bulked yarns or yarns produced by wrapping a textile or non-textile material round a core. It is not applicable to yarns with other features such as constituent fibres, after treatment and type of package.
Textiles — Désignation des fils
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO 1139
Second edition
Textiles — Designation of yarns
2025-11
Textiles — Désignation des fils
Reference number
© ISO 2025
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and symbols . 1
3.1 Terms and definitions .1
3.2 Symbols .3
4 Yarn notation based on the linear density of the single yarn (single-to-fold notation) . 3
4.1 General .3
4.2 Single yarn .3
4.2.1 Spun yarns .3
4.2.2 Monofilaments without twist .4
4.2.3 Twisted monofilaments .4
4.2.4 Multifilaments without twist .4
4.2.5 Twisted multifilaments .4
4.3 Multiple wound yarns .4
4.3.1 Multiple wound yarns having similar components .4
4.3.2 Multiple wound yarns having dissimilar components .5
4.4 Folded yarns .5
4.4.1 Folded yarns having similar components .5
4.4.2 Folded yarns having dissimilar components .5
4.5 Cabled yarns .5
4.5.1 Cabled yarns having similar components .5
4.5.2 Cabled yarns having dissimilar components .5
5 Yarn notation based on the resultant linear density (fold-to-single notation) . 6
5.1 General .6
5.2 Single yarns .6
5.2.1 Twisted monofilaments .6
5.2.2 Twisted multifilaments .6
5.3 Folded yarns .7
5.3.1 Folded yarns having similar components .7
5.3.2 Folded yarns having dissimilar components .7
5.4 Cabled yarns .7
5.4.1 Cabled yarns having similar components .7
5.4.2 Cabled yarns having dissimilar components .8
6 Abbreviated notations . 8
Bibliography .10
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38, Textiles, Subcommittee SC 23, Fibres and yarn.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 1139:1973), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the content structure has been updated to comply with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2;
— Clauses 2 and 3 have been updated.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
The general introduction of the Tex system for expressing the linear density of yarns requires standardization
of the notation for yarn construction. In designating yarns, it has been customary - and it remains desirable
- to reflect in a condensed form details of the components of a yarn including values of the linear densities,
directions and amounts of twist, number of folds, etc. of these components and/or characteristics of the
yarn resulting from this construction, such as its linear density indicated as resultant linear density.
The resultant linear density of folded and/or cabled yarns - in some cases with strong twisted filament yarns
- generally differs from the sum of the linear densities of the components. Even when starting from the same
component yarns, using the same direction and amount of twist, number of folds, etc., yarns with different
resultant linear densities can be produced due to differences in conditions during manufacturing of yarns,
such as yarn tensions, types of machine used, moisture content of the yarns, atmospheric conditions, etc.
A yarn notation serves two purposes:
— it is used as a general indication of a yarn; in this case the values for linear densities, amounts of twist,
etc. used in the yarn notation will be referred to as nominal values;
— it may be used for reporting the result of an analysis of a yarn; in this case the values derived from an
authorised testing procedure for linear densities and amounts of twist used in the yarn notation will be
referred to as actual values.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the application of the notation of yarns in the Tex system does not affect
existing commercial practices in the trade.
Values of linear density and amount of twist used in commercial transactions are nominal unless explicitly
stated as being actual.
Nominal linear densities and amounts of twist are subject to tolerances, the numerical values of which are
usually agreed in the various branches of the textile industry or directly between seller and buyer.
In this document, two methods for the notation of yarns are specified, namely:
a) yarn notation starting from the linear density of the single yarn: it may be referred to as single-to-fold
notation;
b) yarn notation starting from the linear density of the resultant yarn: it may be referred to as fold-to-
single notation.
The symbols used in both systems are identical. The differences are in the order of presentation, the use of
the multiplication sign (×) in the single-to-fold notation, and of the solidus (/) in the fold-to-single notation.
Distinction between these two methods does not apply to single spun yarns, monofilaments and
multifilaments without twist, nor to multiple wound yarns. The notation of these yarns is given under the
heading of the first method (see 4.2 and 4.3).
It is hoped that, ultimately, one method can be used to the exclusion of the other. In fact, ISO 858, dealing
with yarns for fishing nets, employs only the single-to-fold method, although giving, in the abbreviations,
only those items of information that are appropriate.
v
International Standard ISO 1139:2025(en)
Textiles — Designation of yarns
1 Scope
This document specifies two methods of indicating the composition of yarns, whether single,
...
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