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Title: CHAPTER III: SOURCES OF STICKINESS FOR BOLL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSIOLOGICAL SUGARS AND FIELD CONTAMINANTS

Author
item Brushwood, Donald
item Hendrix, Donald
item NICHOLS, ROBERT - COTTON INC.
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS - USDA - RETIRED
item MURRAY, A - TEXAS TECH
item HAGUE, S - TEXAS TECH

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Educational Brochure
Publication Type: Monograph
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/3/2003
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Sticky cotton is of interest to anyone in the many steps involved in the production, processing, and finishing of durable high quality fabrics for consumer use. There are a number of internal and external sources that many cause stickiness in cottons. Foremost, is the presence of sugars. A small percentage of annually harvested raw cottons are insect contaminated (known as honeydew). Stickiness in textile processing other than honeydew may be influenced by a wide range of sources, such as natural plant sugars, effects of growing area, selection of variety, length of growing season, and man-induced contamination in production and processing. This chapter addresses the above subjects, places in the textile processing where stickiness may occur and how it can influence the quality of finished goods. The later section of the chapter addresses practices adopted by the textile industry in the past and currently, that have been successful in dealing with sticky non-honeydew cottons in processing to insure maximum profits while producing the best quality yarn and fabrics possible.

Technical Abstract: Stickiness in cottons from sources other than insect contamination (honeydew) can come from a number of other sources. The most influental of these being natural (physiological) sugars, growing area,variety, length of growing season, field weathering, cultural practices, and other non- cellulosic and man-induced contaminants. No fewer than nine different quantifiable types of plant sugars have been identified on non-honeydew cottons. The most predominant of these sugars (40 to 70 percent of total plant sugars) are the mono-saccharides glucose and fructose followed by a much more sticky di-saccharide sucrose which may account for 5 to 20 percent of total sugars. A short growing season or poor selection of variety may result in low micronaire, less mature cottons that can also cause stickiness in processing. High trash, and oily/sticky seedcoat fragments may cause interruption in web formation as the fiber passes through card crush rolls. Excessive levels of man-induced anti-static agents, accidental contamination with oil and grease from picker-head mechanisms during harvesting and from grease in the gin presses, herbicides, and insecticides are likewise known to cause fiber stickiness. Each of the above is discussed and recommendations for dealing with these problems in processing are addressed.