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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 #330274
Research Project: Improved Quality Assessments of Cotton from Fiber to Final Products

Location: Cotton Structure and Quality Research

Title: Microwave moisture measurement of cotton fiber moisture content in the laboratory

Author
item Rodgers Iii, James
item ZUMBA, JIMMY - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Delhom, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Journal of Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2016
Publication Date: 5/1/2017
Citation: Rodgers III, J.E., Zumba, J., Delhom, C.D. 2017. Microwave moisture measurement of cotton fiber moisture content in the laboratory. American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Journal of Research. 4(3):1-7. doi:10.14504/ajr.4.3.1.

Interpretive Summary: The moisture content of cotton fiber is an important fiber property, but it is often measured by a laborious, time-consuming laboratory oven drying method. A program was implemented to establish the capabilities of a laboratory microwave moisture measurement instrument to perform rapid, precise and accurate fiber moisture measurements. The microwave instrument was calibrated versus two significantly different oven drying methods. The method agreements between with two oven drying methods were very good, with low residuals observed. The precision of the microwave moisture content measurements was very high, approaching 0.1% moisture. The impact of sample fiber weight was minor, and instrument stability and long-term repeatability was excellent. The microwave fiber moisture content measurement was shown to be viable and applicable for quality control use.

Technical Abstract: The moisture content of cotton fiber is an important fiber property, but it is often measured by a laborious, time-consuming laboratory oven drying method. A program was implemented to establish the capabilities of a laboratory microwave moisture measurement instrument to perform rapid, precise and accurate fiber moisture measurements. The microwave instrument was calibrated versus two significantly different oven drying methods. The method agreements between with two oven drying methods were very good, with low residuals observed. The precision of the microwave moisture content measurements was very high, approaching 0.1% moisture. The impact of sample fiber weight was minor, and instrument stability and long-term repeatability was excellent. The microwave fiber moisture content measurement was shown to be viable and applicable for quality control use.