Effect of Cotton Fiber Bundle Break Elongation and Other Fiber Properties on the Properties of a Coarse and a Medium Singles Yarn

Abstract

Forty-three cottons, varying extensively in fiber properties, were used to show the relationship between cotton fiber properties, particularly fiber bundle break elongation, and the properties of a coarse and medium yarn. In addition, there are presented some practical aspects of a speculative nature based on the results. The cottons were proc essed into a series of yarns of varying twists. Fiber break elongation, along with five other fiber properties (length, fineness, strength, length variability, and maturity), was correlated with yarn break elongation at twists for maximum skein strength, maximum single strand strength, and at two constant twists (4.00 and 5.00 T.M.). It was found that yarns produced from these cottons varied considerably in strength and elongation at break. Yarn strength and break elongation were found to be directly related for the commercially grown short and medium staple cottons, but the long staple and the experimental, strong-fibered cottons were found to be anomalous in that they produced yarns whose strength was disproportionate to their fiber break elongation. Based on multiple correlation analyses, fiber break elongation ranked first and strength ranked second in importance as contributors to yarn elongation for a 30/1 yarn at twists for maximum strength. Secant modulus (average stiffness) and "toughness" index of fibers and yarns are suggested as quality indices for evaluating processing efficiency. This study also demon strated the necessity of controlling carefully spinning and other processing conditions in evaluating the elastic properties of cotton yarns.