Physical properties of cotton fiber and their measurement

Authors: Delhom, Christopher; KELLY, BRENDEN - Texas Tech University; MARTIN, VIKKI - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: Cotton Fiber: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2018
Publication Date: 11/12/2018
Citation: Delhom, C.D., Kelly, B., Martin, V. 2018. Physical properties of cotton fiber and their measurement. In: Fang, D.D., editor. Cotton Fiber: Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. p. 41-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00871-0_3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00871-0_3

Interpretive Summary: Cotton fiber is a highly variable natural product. The economic and industrial value of cotton is directly related to the physical properties of the fibers within a bale. In marketing cotton, the length, strength, color grade and micronaire of the fiber is of paramount importance. Researchers need to understand the properties used in marketing, as well as additional fiber properties such as fineness, maturity, neps, length distribution and fiber cohesion. Additionally, it is important to understand the variability of these properties within a sample of cotton. The distribution of the fiber properties has an important role in the performance of a cotton. There are many ways to measure each of the properties of cotton ranging from tedious manual methods, which often serve as the references for other methods, to high speed instrumental methods. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods must be understood to properly apply the test methods and to interpret the results.

Technical Abstract: Cotton fiber is a highly variable natural product. The economic and industrial value of cotton is directly related to the physical properties of the fibers within a bale. In marketing cotton, the length, strength, color grade and micronaire of the fiber is of paramount importance. Researchers need to understand the properties used in marketing, as well as additional fiber properties such as fineness, maturity, neps, length distribution and fiber cohesion. Additionally, it is important to understand the variability of these properties within a sample of cotton. The distribution of the fiber properties has an important role in the performance of a cotton. There are many ways to measure each of the properties of cotton ranging from tedious manual methods, which often serve as the references for other methods, to high speed instrumental methods. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods must be understood to properly apply the test methods and to interpret the results.