Textile processing improvements due to high speed roller ginning of upland cotton

Authors: Delhom, Christopher; Armijo, Carlos; Hughs, Sidney

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Selective breeding has improved upland cotton fiber properties. Processing capacities of new high-speed roller ginning technology approach that of saw ginning. Spinning mills are interested in mill performance data comparing new upland cultivars processed by both saw and roller ginning. Four diverse upland cultivars were processed by saw ginning and high-speed roller ginning. HVI and AFIS fiber properties were determined. Ring-spun carded (Ne 36/1) and combed (Ne 36/1 and Ne 50/1) yarns were produced, and their properties determined. Results overall (combining cultivars) showed that the roller gin, when compared to the saw gin, produced fiber that was two staple lengths longer, had two percentage points higher length uniformity, had 2.5 percentage points less short fiber, and contained 25% fewer neps. The roller gin had 1.1 percentage points higher trash content in the lint, mainly due to less aggressive lint cleaning. With respect to yarn properties, yarn (carded and combed) produced from fiber from the roller gin, when compared to fiber from the saw gin, was about 0.2 percentage points more uniform, had 19% fewer thin places, 7.6% fewer thick places, and was 2.4% stronger. Combed yarn produced from the roller gin lots had one percentage point less short fiber than the saw gin lots. The roller gin lots had 30.8% fewer ends down than the saw gin lots when producing Ne 50/1 combed yarn. The maximum carded yarn size obtained was 41.3 (Ne) and 39.6 (Ne) for the roller gin and saw gin lots, respectively; this was accomplished at 5% higher spindle speed (18,125 rpm) for the roller gin. The maximum combed yarn size obtained was 55.8 (Ne) and 54.2 (Ne) for the roller gin and saw gin lots, respectively; this was accomplished at 4% higher spindle speed (18,833 rpm) for the roller gin. Carded and combed yarn produced from the roller gin lots were consistently stronger for a given twist multiple than the saw gin lots. Further analysis is needed to determine differences among cultivars. Although roller ginned upland cotton is a niche market, textile mills value the improved fiber and yarn quality obtained with roller ginning. This study provides spinning mills information on yarn production limits and efficiencies.

Technical Abstract: Selective breeding has improved upland cotton fiber properties. Processing capacities of new high-speed roller ginning technology approach that of saw ginning. Spinning mills are interested in mill performance data comparing new upland cultivars processed by both saw and roller ginning. Four diverse upland cultivars were processed by saw ginning and high-speed roller ginning. HVI and AFIS fiber properties were determined. Ring-spun carded (Ne 36/1) and combed (Ne 36/1 and Ne 50/1) yarns were produced, and their properties determined. Results overall (combining cultivars) showed that the roller gin, when compared to the saw gin, produced fiber that was two staple lengths longer, had two percentage points higher length uniformity, had 2.5 percentage points less short fiber, and contained 25% fewer neps. The roller gin had 1.1 percentage points higher trash content in the lint, mainly due to less aggressive lint cleaning. With respect to yarn properties, yarn (carded and combed) produced from fiber from the roller gin, when compared to fiber from the saw gin, was about 0.2 percentage points more uniform, had 19% fewer thin places, 7.6% fewer thick places, and was 2.4% stronger. Combed yarn produced from the roller gin lots had one percentage point less short fiber than the saw gin lots. The roller gin lots had 30.8% fewer ends down than the saw gin lots when producing Ne 50/1 combed yarn. The maximum carded yarn size obtained was 41.3 (Ne) and 39.6 (Ne) for the roller gin and saw gin lots, respectively; this was accomplished at 5% higher spindle speed (18,125 rpm) for the roller gin. The maximum combed yarn size obtained was 55.8 (Ne) and 54.2 (Ne) for the roller gin and saw gin lots, respectively; this was accomplished at 4% higher spindle speed (18,833 rpm) for the roller gin. Carded and combed yarn produced from the roller gin lots were consistently stronger for a given twist multiple than the saw gin lots. Further analysis is needed to determine differences among cultivars. Although roller ginned upland cotton is a niche market, textile mills value the improved fiber and yarn quality obtained with roller ginning. This study provides spinning mills information on yarn production limits and efficiencies.