ARS | Publication request: General Tips Concerning What Has Been Learned About Cotton Processing in Traditional Textile Manufacturing

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: April 15, 2009
Publication Date: June 15, 2009
Citation: Sawhney, A.P., Condon, B.D., Reynolds, M.L., Riddle, J.B. 2009. A Few General Tips Concerning What Has Been Learned About Cotton Processing in Traditional Textile Manufacturing. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. CDROM. p. 1436-1439.

Interpretive Summary: Efficient processing of cotton for conversion into a traditional woven fabric is critical for the profitability of a textile mill. Depending on the type and quality of the mill and its equipment, raw materials, products, operating conditions, quality control, and workforce, there are numerous technical tips that can considerably improve the efficiency, quality and hence productivity of the mill. Among the critical factors are: 1) a good mixing of cotton bales for homogeneity (w/o using any discounted bales and/or cotton wastes; 2) a thorough opening and cleaning of cotton mix/stock, using at least one saw-tooth type cleaner in the line, preferably at the end; 3) licker-in feed setting on the card must be optimized with the degree of opening achieved in the opening/cleaning line; 4) an auto-leveler on a draw frame is a must; 5) roving twist should be the least feasible; 6) ends down in spinning must be closely monitored to improve the spinning process, which subsequently influences the weaving efficiency and ultimately the profitability of the mill; 7) winding, warping and sizing/slashing are also very important and the quality control of these processes should not be neglected or ignored; 8) If the processes up to the weaving stage are properly controlled, there is no reason to lose weaving efficiency and quality. To achieve even better results, the work load of the operators and the operating conditions, including proper lighting and comfortable ambient conditions, must not be overlooked.

Technical Abstract: This article, under the following sub-headings, briefly describes a few important practical tips involving processing of cotton in traditional textile manufacturing: (1)Bale Selection and Fiber Mixing, (2) Fiber Opening and Cleaning, (3) Carding, (4) Drawing, (5) Combing (if necessary), (6) Roving, (7) Spinning (Ring, Rotor, Air-Jet/Vortex, Friction), (8) Winding, (9) Warping, (10) Sizing/Slashing, (11) Weaving, (12) Fabric Finishing (outside the scope of this article), and (13) Testing & QC (throughout the above fiber-to-fabric processes)