Cotton Fibre Maturity

Fibre Maturity
Maturity is a dimensional characteristic of
natural cellulose fibres especially cotton
It indicates how well-developed the fibres are
at harvest
It is associated with the development of
cellulose in the secondary wall
It is extremely important in terms of down-
stream processing and yarn/fabric quality
Maturity and fineness are interrelated,
although not in a simple way
Maturity (of Cotton Fibres)
The fibres collapse when they dry out on harvesting to give a kidney-bean
shape

P
P

Dry
On the plant

Cross-sectional area changes, but perimeter remains

approximately constant

3
Maturity (of Cotton Fibres)
Technological importance

Maturity largely determines whether a batch of cotton

can be spun into a good yarn - or indeed into any yarn

Some maturity Variations

Mature/Over-mature

Immature

Dead

Cause neps clumps of matted fibres

4
Maturity (Degree of thickening ())

Cellulose

Lumen Ao

Idealised cross-section of a cotton fibre

A = area occupied by cellulose

7
 Degree of thickening ()

The distribution of fibre wall thickness in cotton.

8
 Value of Lumen
Class
width/wall thickness

Between 0 and 1 Mature

Between 1 and 2 Half mature
Above 2 Immature
Average Degree of cell
Class
wall thickening

0.79 Normal
0.41 Thin walled
0.23 Dead
 Percentage of mature fibres

Percentage of mature fibres (PM) = (m t) 100

where
m = total number of mature fibres, and
t = total number of observations
 Maturity Coefficient

Maturity Coefficient shall be calculated by the

following formula:
CM = (m+ 0.6 h + 0.4 i)/100

where
m = percentage of mature fibres,
h = percentage of half mature fibres, and
i = percentage of immature fibres.
 Maturity Ratio
M = 0.7 + (N-D)/200
Gives M ~ 1 for a high-grade Egyptian cotton

M can be greater than 1

M less than ~ 0.8 is not good
M less than 0.7 is very rare
 Relation between Maturity Ratio and
Degree of Cell Wall Thickening

= 0.577 M

M - maturity ratio
degree of cell wall thickening
 Methods to determine Maturity
Direct measurement methods
Fiber cross-section image analysis
Causticare - Caustic soda Swelling method
Indirect measurement methods
AFIS - optical sensor
Cottonscope polarized light microscopy and image
analysis
Differential dyeing method
HVI also provides Maturity value
Unavailability of a rapid and precise measurement of
fiber maturity
 Caustic soda swelling test

18 % solution of sodium hydroxide

Magnification of 400x
 Cottonscope
Cotton fibers assume different colors
according to their wall thickness when they
are examined through a microscope fitted
with a crossed polarizer
Fibers that have very thin walls appear violet
or indigo, immature fibers appear blue, and
mature fibers appear yellow
 Differential Dyeing Method
Bath containing Red and Green Dyes
Mature Fibres Red
Immature Green

3 gram sample taken in a piece of gauze

Bath 180g water
1 grain of diphenyl fast red supra
2 grain of Chlorantine fast green
Dye for 15 min
Add 1.8 grain of NaCl, Again add after 15min,
Wash twice in cold, then hot and cold
 Problems due to immature fibres
immature fibers break easily during processing
to generate short fibers and neps
(entanglement of fibers).
This results in yarn defects and decreased
productivity.
Immature fibers also create non-uniform
dyeing of fabrics
Immature fibers result in low dye uptake,
increased fabric defects and waste.