Author
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Anthony, William |
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Submitted to: International Cotton Advisory Committee Recorder
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 8/16/2005 Publication Date: 9/22/2005 Citation: Anthony, W.S. 2005. Impact of fiber moisture on measured fiber strength. International Cotton Advisory Committee Recorder. In proceedings of 64th ICAC conference. pp. 18-22. Interpretive Summary: As the optimum use of cotton fiber worldwide expands and the quantity of bales exported and imported across national boundaries increase, standardization of cotton quality assessment becomes critical. Currently, only a few countries use instruments to properly assess the physical properties of cotton fiber. Instruments, cotton conditioning and testing facilities, and training are a major issue. Global standardization of methods and procedures to assess cotton quality is required. This paper reviews published research in the United States that documents the relationship between fiber parameters such as strength and length, and the moisture content of the fiber. Use of the information can be a basis for developing standardized protocols for cotton quality assessment that will ensure that the measurements are repeatable and sustainable globally. Technical Abstract: Current interest in global standardization of instrument classification of cotton has focused attention on the impact of environmental conditioning on moisture content and consequently on fiber properties such as strength and length. This article reviews related research. All cottons do not equilibrate at the same moisture content when exposed to the same environmental conditions with the difference being about 1.7% moisture content depending on the moisture history of the sample as well as physiological differences in the cotton fiber. Laboratory environmental conditions should be maintained at 70 ±1 ºF and 65% ± 2% relative humidity (RH) and samples should be conditioned passively for 48 hours or conditioned actively for shorter periods of time before testing. The moisture content of cotton fiber should be in the range of 6.3 to 7.6% for testing. When these conditions are met, strength and length may differ by about 2 g/tex and 0.02 in., respectively, across the 6.3 to 7.6% moisture content. When these moisture conditions are not met, these differences are much greater. Instrumentation standard deviations are in addition to these variations. The moisture content of fiber should be measured at testing for documentation as well as possible correction of the measurement. |
