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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 #276825
Title: Cottonscope – a new instrument for maturity and fineness measurements: b) experimental results and experiences

Author
item Rodgers Iii, James
item Thibodeaux, Devron

Submitted to: International Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2012
Publication Date: 3/21/2012
Citation: Rodgers III, J.E., Thibodeaux, D.P. 2102. Cottonscope – a new instrument for maturity and fineness measurements: b) experimental results and experiences. International Cotton Conference. p.143-153.

Interpretive Summary: Cotton fiber maturity and fineness are important properties for cotton quality and processing. Most methods for measuring fiber maturity and fineness are slow and laborious measurements and can use chemicals or expensive equipment and instruments. Much interest has been expressed in new rapid, accurate, precise, and cost effective measurements of fiber maturity and fineness. A new small size instrument—the Cottonscope—has been introduced that simultaneously measures cotton fiber maturity and fineness. The Cottonscope yields average fiber maturity, fineness, and ribbon width, as well as distributions for maturity and width. A program was implanted to determine the capabilities of the Cottonscope instrument for maturity and fineness measurements. Examples of our experimental results and experiences with the Cottonscope are presented. In general, the Cottonscope yields a simultaneous, rapid, precise, and accurate measurement of fiber maturity and fineness. The primary impact on the Cottonscope measurement results was the change in environmental conditions (room temperature and relative humidity), and that impact was major only for fiber fineness. Comparative measurements indicated that the Cottonscope yielded a more representative and responsive measurement of fiber maturity and fineness compared to the Uster® AFIS results.

Technical Abstract: Cotton fiber maturity and fineness are important properties for cotton quality and processing. Most methods for measuring fiber maturity and fineness involve the use of slow and laborious measurements, chemicals, and/or the use of expensive equipment and instruments. International interest has been expressed in new rapid, accurate, precise, and cost effective measurements of fiber maturity and fineness. A new small size instrument—the Cottonscope—has been introduced that simultaneously measures cotton fiber maturity and fineness. The Cottonscope yields average fiber maturity, fineness, and ribbon width, as well as distributions for maturity and width. A program was implanted to determine the capabilities of the Cottonscope instrument for maturity and fineness measurements. Examples of our experimental results and experiences with the Cottonscope are presented. Comparisons were made between the maturity and fineness results from the Cottonscope, cross-sectional image analysis (reference method), SRRC Fiber Maturity Tester (FMT), and Uster® Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS) measurements. It was demonstrated that the Cottonscope yields a simultaneous, rapid, precise, and accurate measurement of fiber maturity and fineness. The Cottonscope measurement was relatively fast (less than a total of 10 minutes for 6 measurements per sample) and easy to perform. The primary impact on the Cottonscope measurement results was the change in environmental conditions (room temperature and relative humidity), and that impact was major only for fiber fineness. Measurements on experimental breeder samples indicated that the Cottonscope yielded a more representative and responsive measurement of fiber maturity and fineness compared to the corresponding AFIS results.