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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 #290592

Title: Experience of the fibrotest for measuring cotton fiber length and strength properties

Author
item Cui, Xiaoliang
item Delhom, Christopher - Chris
item Rodgers Iii, James
item CAI, YIYUN - Louisiana State University
item MARTIN, VIKKI - Cotton, Inc
item WATSON, MIKE - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2013
Publication Date: 5/24/2013
Citation: Cui, X., Delhom, C.D., Rodgers, J., Cai, Y., Martin, V., Watson, M. 2013. Experience of the fibrotest for measuring cotton fiber length and strength properties. Proceeding of the National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 7-10,2013, San Antonio, Texas. p. 799-802.

Interpretive Summary: The Fibrotest is a device developed by Textechno for measuring cotton fiber length and strength properties. A series experiments were conducted to compare its results to other devices such the HVI and to standard USDA values. The characteristics of the Fibrotest’s operations and experimental results are discussed. This study is aimed at improving fiber property measurement.

Technical Abstract: The Fibrotest is a device developed by Textechno for measuring cotton fiber length and strength properties. The Fibrotest provides abundant information, including more than 20 length and strength parameters in absolute and relative modes, and displays fibrogram, load-elongation curve, and fiber beard image. Its calibration method has several advantages, such as individual operators can have different calibration files, or it can be calibrated to different relative levels. The observed differences between the relative mode UHM and Strength values and “standard” HVI values were small. The micronaire value did not show a statistically significant impact on strength difference between Fibrotest and HVI. The Fibrotest produced a higher breaking elongation and a lower strength in absolute mode than Stelometer, which can be reduced by the use of Stelometer values in relative mode (calibration to Stelometer level). Small operator effects on length and strength measurements were observed. The Fibrotest does not have a mechanism to keep fibers straight for testing, which may contribute to the differences in testing results from other devices.