Disclosed are improved methods for crimping tow and/or measuring the crimp of the tow (e.g., the crimp level and/or uncrimp energy). Also disclosed is tow produced using such methods. The methods can result in tow (e.g., cellulose acetate tow) that has more consistent and precise crimp than has been previously achieved.

Disclosed are improved methods for inspecting tow for contamination, defects, and/or imperfections, for example cellulose acetate tow. The present disclosure can also relate to processes for producing cellulose acetate tow that involve detecting and analyzing contamination, defects, and/or imperfections in the tow. The methods can result in cellulose acetate that has fewer contamination, defects, and/or imperfections than has been previously achieved.