Source: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA submitted to
IMPROVEMENTS IN QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF COTTON AND OTHER FIBERS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0198747
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
GEO00518
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 1, 2004
Project End Date
Dec 31, 2007
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Epps, H. H.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
200 D.W. BROOKS DR
ATHENS,GA 30602-5016
Performing Department
COL OF FAMILY & CONSUMER SCI
Non Technical Summary
Current methods of assessing cotton fiber quality are often inefficient and do not always provide reliable data. This project examines the use of new technology for assessing fiber quality that may streamline the evaluation process and also has the potential for providing data that can be more readily used by both fiber producers and textile manufacturers.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
80%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
51117102010100%
Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
1710 - Upland cotton;

Field Of Science
2010 - Physics;
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to improve accuracy and efficiency in assessing quality of cotton and other natural fibers in order to benefit fiber producers and textile manufacturers. There are three specific objectives which fall within this overall goal. The first objective is to investigate the use of a recently introduced method for measuring characteristics of cotton quality that currently are being measured by more traditional techniques. The second objective is to determine whether the new measurement method can be effectively used to assess fiber properties for which there currently are no well-established procedures. The third objective is to determine whether this procedure can be adapted for use in evaluating quality of fibers other than cotton, in particular, flax.
Project Methods
Methods currently in widespread use for determining quality of cotton fiber measuring physical and mechanical properties of cotton fiber are the HVI (High Volume Instrument) system and AFIS (Advanced Fiber Information System). The HVI system, in particular, has become the USDA standard for evaluation of cotton properties including length, strength, micronaire, color and trash. AFIS allows measurement of similar properties, including 20 different parameters related to length, maturity, neps, and trash. While there are advantages associated with both HVI and AFIS, there also are limitations. One limitation is that the system is designed to be used in a classing office, or other facility that is distant from both the textile manufacturing site and the cotton gin. A second limitation is that the data that result from these measurements are not always directly usable by the yarn or textile manufacturer. Furthermore, although many yarn and textile manufacturers use multiple fibers in addition to cotton, separate standards and measurement procedures are often required for different fiber types. This project will investigate the use of the Schaffner Technologies ISO Tester, a relatively new instrument system designed to measure cotton fiber properties including color, trash, moisture content, length, short fiber content, and micronaire. Based on a relatively simple technology of a flat-bed scanner and associated measurement techniques, the validity of the ISO Tester system has been questioned. However, if it is found to provide valid measurements, the system could conceivably be effectively used at any point along the fiber-to-fabric production cycle, and components of the system could possibly be used in evaluating some of the properties of fibers other than cotton. This project will investigate these possibilities.

Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: investigator retired 2007 PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
investigator retired 2007

Publications

  • investigator retired 2007


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
The goal of this project is to improve accuracy and efficiency in assessing quality of cotton and other natural fibers in order to benefit fiber producers and textile manufacturers. Progress was made toward this goal in 2005 through quality measurements of cotton fiber samples. Work was done primarily through the use of a laboratory-based Schaffner Technologies ISO-Tester instrument that was obtained in 2004. Fiber measurements included a range of color, trash, and length characteristics using approximately 100 different fiber samples obtained from other studies, including samples from official variety trials. Some of the problems with the previously reported problem of lack of precision between sample measurements were resolved through adjustments in sampling, handling of samples, and improved control over sample pressure. This was verified through a study that involved three operators who measured properties of multiple cotton samples. A second ISO-tester instrument has been installed and measurements between the two instruments are being compared. Future work will address measurments of fiber at the point of ginning, and the use of this instumentation in measuring properties of other natural fibers.

Impacts
The application of a streamlined method of assessing quality of natural fibers taht can be used simultaneously by fiber producers, ginners, and textile manufacturers is expected to reduce costs associated with current methods of fiber quality assessment.

Publications

  • Epps, H. H. (2005). Cotton quality: fiber measurements. Proceedings, Textile Institute 83rd World Conference, 597-600.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
The overall goal of the project, to improve accuracy and efficiency in assessing quality of cotton and other natural fibers in order to benefit fiber producers and textile manufacturers, is being addressed. During this first year of the project, a Schaffner Technologies ISO-Tester was obtained and installed. Using this instrument, a wide range of fiber property measuremeents, including various aspects of trash, color, and length, were determined for over 100 cotton samples. Fibers tested included samples obtained from a 2001 crop study, as well as new varieties from an official variety trial study. ISO-Tester measurements of these samples were compared with measurements obtained through traditional methods, including HVI and AFIS, as well as color spectrophotometric methods. Data were analyzed to determine correlations among the various measurment methods, and to determine precision of the ISO-Tester measurements. One problem area that was identified was limited agreement between ISO-tester color measurements and spectrophotometric color measurements. A second problem that was identified and is continuing to be adressed is inconsistency of sample pressure during measurement. Preliminary investigation revealed that these two problems are closely related. Work is continuing toward full-scale use of the ISO-Tester in evaluating cotton quality at the point of ginning. Future work will address the use of the instrument in measuring quality properties of other natural fibers.

Impacts
The application of a streamlined method of assessing quality of natural fibers that can be used simultaneously by fiber producers, ginners, and textile manufacturers is expected to reduce costs associated with current methods of fiber quality assessment.

Publications

  • Epps, H. H. (2004). A study of instrumental and methodological variables in fiber color measurement. Proceedings, Second International Textile, Clothing and Design Conference, 686-689.
  • Epps, H. H. (2004). Cotton quality: fiber to fabric. Proceedings, Textile Institute 83rd World Conference, 597-600.