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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310092
Title: Laboratory ginning and blending impacts on cotton fiber micronaire measurements

Author
item Rodgers Iii, James
item Fortier, Chanel
item Delhom, Christopher
item Cui, Xiaoliang

Submitted to: American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Journal of Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/2015
Publication Date: 7/8/2015
Citation: Rodgers III, J.E., Fortier, C.A., Delhom, C.D., Cui, X. 2015. Laboratory ginning and blending impacts on cotton fiber micronaire measurements. American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Journal of Research. 2(4):1-7.

Interpretive Summary: Micronaire, a measure of the cotton fiber’s maturity and fineness or size, is normally measured in a conditioned laboratory, but increasing interest has been shown in new technologies that can measure micronaire both in and outside of the laboratory. Near Infrared (NIR) technology has demonstrated its ability to measure cotton micronaire both in the laboratory and outside the laboratory using portable NIR analyzers. For individual boll or small quantity seed cotton samples, cotton lint samples can be prepared using several laboratory ginning methods, to include hand ginning, laboratory-scale saw ginning, and laboratory-scale roller ginning. Fiber blending prior to micronaire measurements can also be performed. A program was implemented to determine the impact of different laboratory ginning and blending methods on different fiber micronaire measurements. Blending impact on HVI, Fibronaire, and NIR (portable instrument) micronaire results were minimal. Three diverse varieties of seed cotton (FM958, DP393, SG105) were laboratory ginned (hand ginned, roller ginned, saw ginned) and their lint yield and HVI, Fibronaire, and portable NIR micronaires compared. For each variety, very good agreement was observed between the three ginning methods for lint yield (approximately 42-45% lint yield). Micronaire agreement between the three micronaire methods was very good. The micronaire results for FM958 were overall lower than for DP393 and SG105 for all micronaire measurement methods. Thus, laboratory ginning and blending impacts on HVI, Fibronaire, and portable NIR micronaire results were minimal, permitting the use of “as received” cotton lint and the interchange of any of the three laboratory ginning methods.

Technical Abstract: Micronaire, a critical cotton quality parameter, is normally measured in a conditioned laboratory, but increasing interest has been shown in new technologies that can measure micronaire both in and outside of the laboratory. Near Infrared (NIR) technology has demonstrated its ability to measure cotton micronaire both in the laboratory and outside the laboratory using portable NIR analyzers. For individual boll or small quantity seed cotton samples, cotton lint samples can be prepared using several laboratory ginning methods, to include hand ginning, laboratory-scale saw ginning, and laboratory-scale roller ginning. Fiber blending prior to micronaire measurements can also be performed. A program was implemented to determine the impact of different laboratory ginning and blending methods on different fiber micronaire measurements. Blending impact on HVI, Fibronaire, and NIR (portable instrument) micronaire results were minimal. Three diverse varieties of seed cotton (FM958, DP393, SG105) were laboratory ginned (hand ginned, roller ginned, saw ginned) and their gin turnout (lint yield) and HVI, Fibronaire, and portable NIR micronaires compared. For each variety, very good agreement was observed between the three ginning methods for lint yield, with approximately 42-45% lint yield for all varieties and all laboratory gin methods. Micronaire agreement between the three micronaire methods was very good, with between measurement method and between laboratory gin method agreements established. The micronaire results for FM958 were overall lower than for DP393 and SG105 for all micronaire measurement methods. Thus, laboratory ginning and blending impacts on HVI, Fibronaire, and portable NIR micronaire results were minimal, permitting the use of “as received” cotton lint and the interchange of any of the three laboratory ginning methods.