On September 17th the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Office announced additional tariffs of 10 percent on 5,745 items with an approximate value of $200 billion USD. As most of the world is aware, the Trump Administration and China are in a heated economic battle.

Typically Mil Spec sewing thread standards are long and divided into several sections. They define physical characteristics of thread and are a good reference point for manufacturers however, they can be confusing and its important to understand the basics.  Here is a quick guide to the 8 page standard, A-A-55195 (formerly MIL-T-44100) spun para-aramid sewing threads. 

Tenacity and modulus are important characteristics to understand as they relate to industrial thread and yarn – particularly for applications in the wire and cable industry. They differ from one another in that tenacity is the ratio of tensile strength to yarn size. Tenacity is calculated using the ultimate breaking force of the yarn (when a thread or yarn is stretched to its breaking point) and the linear density and can be used to compare dissimilar material or different sizes of material. 

A creel is simply a frame on which the feeding thread or yarn bobbin is fitted. Often, the creel is fitted with a yarn tensioning device which controls tension variation. Proper placement and stabilization of thread and yarn at the beginning of the product manufacturing process is critical. “Think of a creel as the foundation of a building,” states Neal Fournier, Facilities & Maintenance Manager with Service Thread. “It’s likely that process improvement starts after the yarn enters the production process; however, you will be surprised by the gains that can be made by taking a look at using a creel or refining your creel design.” 

Manufacturing products for outdoor applications or those that require the product be exposed to UV light, require special specifications to stand up to various environmental conditions. UV degradation of industrial sewing thread is a physical and chemical change that results from irradiation of the base polymers by ultraviolet light. The UV energy absorbed into the thread leads to degradation of the polymeric chain and loss of strength in the thread. It can also affect thread finishes such as bonding as well as causing fading or spotting of thread dye.

I’ve been in the industrial yarn business for 21 years and haven’t seen anything quite like the current polyester pricing situation. If you buy or sell synthetic yarns, I’m sure that you feel the same way. The fast pace of the modern business environment has impacted every market’s volatility, even the very mature ones (read “old textile businesses”).