Cottonscope fiber maturity fineness, and ribbon width measurements with different sample sizes

Authors: Rodgers Iii, James; NAYLOR, GEOFFREY RS - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); Cui, Xiaoliang; Delhom, Christopher - Chris; Hinchliffe, Doug

Submitted to: Textile Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2014
Publication Date: 3/19/2015
Citation: Rodgers III, J.E., Naylor, G., Cui, X., Delhom, C.D., Hinchliffe, D.J. 2015. Cottonscope fiber maturity fineness, and ribbon width measurements with different sample sizes. Textile Research Journal. 85(9):897-911.

Interpretive Summary: The maturity and fineness of cotton fiber can impact the fiber’s quality and downstream processing, but their accurate and precise measurement is often difficult, laborious, and/or expensive to perform. A new instrument has recently been introduced—the Cottonscope®—that rapidly, accurately, and precisely measures fiber maturity and fineness with small quantities of sample (approximately 50 mg). Interest has been expressed in the use of different sample weights of fiber, especially by breeders for lower sample weights. A program was implemented to establish the potential and capabilities of the Cottonscope to rapidly and accurately measure maturity, fineness, and ribbon width with different sample weights of fiber and to examine the impacts of the use of different sample weights on the Cottonscope maturity, fineness, and ribbon width results. Cottonscope measurements were performed on cotton samples with wide ranges of maturity and fineness, in which the sample weight was varied. Fineness was most impacted by varied sample weight. The impacts of sample weights on the cotton results were removed by re-calibrating the instrument at each sample weight. Increasing the sample weight above the standard 50 mg of fiber did not appreciably reduce sample measurement times, but decreasing the sample weight below 50 mg did increase sample measurement times, especially at 10 mg sample weight. These results demonstrated that the Cottonscope can accurately and precisely measure the fiber’s maturity, fineness, and ribbon width with cotton fiber samples as small as 10 mg.

Technical Abstract: The maturity and fineness of cotton fiber can impact the fiber’s quality and downstream processing, but their accurate and precise measurement is often difficult, laborious, and/or expensive to perform. A new instrument has recently been introduced—the Cottonscope®—that rapidly, accurately, and precisely measures fiber maturity and fineness with small quantities of sample (approximately 50 mg). Interest has been expressed in the use of different sample weights of fiber, especially by breeders for lower sample weights. A program was implemented to establish the potential and capabilities of the Cottonscope to rapidly and accurately measure maturity, fineness, and ribbon width with different sample weights of fiber and to examine the impacts of the use of different sample weights on the Cottonscope maturity [maturity ratio (MR) and MRBF], fineness, and ribbon width results. MRBF is the maturity result using polarized light microscopy; MR is the MRBF result normalized by ribbon width (improved agreement to cross-sectional image analysis maturity). Cottonscope measurements were performed on typical cotton samples with wide ranges of maturity and fineness, in which the sample weight was varied. The change in sample weight did impact the Cottonscope results for MR, fineness, and ribbon width; while minimal impact was observed by sample weight on the MRBF results. Fineness was most impacted by varied sample weight. The impacts of sample weights on the cotton results were removed by re-calibrating the instrument at each sample weight. Increasing the sample weight above the standard 50 mg of fiber did not appreciably reduce sample measurement times, but decreasing the sample weight below 50 mg did increase sample measurement times, especially at 10 mg sample weight. These results demonstrated that the Cottonscope can accurately and precisely measure the fiber’s maturity, fineness, and ribbon width with cotton fiber samples as small as 10 mg.