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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 #158845
Title: EFFECT OF COTTON FIBER QUALITY ON THE STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF A MILITARY UNIFORM FABRIC

Author
item RUPPENICKER, GEORGE - RETIRED, SRRC
item Sawhney, Amar
item Kimmel, Linda
item Price, John
item Calamari Jr, Timothy

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Ruppenicker, G.F., Sawhney, A.P., Kimmel, L.B., Price, J.B., Calamari Jr, T.A. 2004. Effect of cotton fiber quality on the strength properties of a military uniform fabric. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference.

Interpretive Summary: Cotton fabrics treated with modern flame-resistant and easy-care finishes often lack the strength to meemt military specifications. However, cottons differing widely in fiber properties are available from various regions of the United States. Selecting cottons with optimum strength properties should result in stronger, more durable fabrics. Research of this type could encourage the use of more cotton for military uniform fabrics.

Technical Abstract: Although cotton has many natural advantages, its use for military uniform fabrics has declined, largely because high strength requirements cause the cotton fabrics to be excessively heavy. Many cotton fabrics treated with modernflame-resistant and easy-care finishes cannot meet the high performance standards required by the military, and are being replaced by fabrics made from synthetic fibers, or blends of cotton with synthetic fibers. The objective of this study was to evaluate athe effect of cotton fiber properties on the strength and durability of an Army battledress uniform fabric woven with a unique rip-stop design. Cottons differing by as much as 60% in fiber strength were evaluated. Fabrics produced from these cottons were treated with flame-resistant and easy-care finishes. As would be expected, the stronger cottons produced proportinately stronger yarns and greige-state fabrics. However, differences in fabric strength were still preserved after the fabrics were treated with the special finishes.