Author
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Goynes, Wilton |
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Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2004 Publication Date: 1/4/2005 Citation: Goynes Jr, W.R. In search of the mystic cotton fiber maturity: a view from the microscope. Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Council. 2005. p. 2212-2218. Interpretive Summary: Determination of maturity of cotton fibers has been important since cotton procusts became commerically availabel. Development of simple, accurate, economical methods for determining fiber maturity has been an ongoing quest because fiber properties such as strength, reactivity and processability depend on fiber secondary wall thickness or maturity. Because cotton is a natural product and all harvested fibers have not reached maximum wall thickness simultaneously, no single method seems to provide definitive answers. This work compares relsutls of maturity measurments by nine proceses currently being used or that are in developement in order to determine which methods best characterize the sample maturity. The sample maturity. The samples were evaluated by a differential dyeing procedure to visually show gross maturity differences, and across sections of the dyed fibers were observe to relate differences found in the measured data. One problem in comparin data from the vaious measuirn gsystems is that they do not all report maturity in the same values. Maturity comparisons within each system were somewhat consistent, however, some systems failed to recognize extremely immature samples as well as others. Dyeding and microscopic observations indicated that these fifferences ould be due to 1) sampling, 2) choice of measuring bale or cleaned samples, 3) method of cleaning, 4) consistent selection of area along length of fiber to be measured. The work is continuing using a broader set of samples with additional measured data. Technical Abstract: Development of simple, accurate, economical methods for determining fiber maturity has been an ongoing quest because fiber properties such as strength, reactivity and processability depend on fiber secondary wall thickness or maturity. Because cotton is a natural product and all harvest fibers do not reach maximum wall thickness simultaneously, no single method seem to provide definitive measurements. This work compares results of maturity measurements by nine processes currently being used or that are in development, in order to determine which methods best characterize the sample maturity. The samples were evaluated by a differential dyeing procedure to visually show gross maturity diffferences, and cross sections of the dyed fibers were observed using light microscopy to relate differnces found in the measured data. Neps in all samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Two Fibermaxc varieties grown in three geographical areas were examined. Both bale samples and hand-combed samples were dyed and sectioned. Obvious differences in sample maturity became evident by dyeing. These differences were not obvious in all instrumental methods. One problem in comparing data from the various measuring systems is that they do not all report maturity in the same values. Maturity comparisions within each system were somewhat consistent, however, some systems failed to recognize extremely immature samples as well as other systems did. Dyeing and microscopic observations indicated that differences between measured values from different instruments could be due to 1)sampling, 2)choice of measuring bale or cleaned samples, 3)method of cleaning, or 4)consistant selection of area along length of fiber to be measured. The work is continuing using a broader set of samples with additional measured data. |
