Blending Cottons Differing Widely in Maturity

Abstract

The blending of extremely fine and coarse cottons was investigated as a possible way of economically using these difficult-to-market cottons in the blended form. Two cottons differing appreciably in fiber fineness (approximately 3.0 and 6.0 μg./in.) but having other pertinent fiber properties about equal were blended together to produce a mixture averaging about 4.0 μg./in. in fineness. For comparative purposes a control cotton also averaging about 4.0 μg./in. in fineness was used. The blended and control cottons were spun into coarse and medium yarns of varying twists and into yarn num bers suitable for weaving Type 128 sheeting (64 X 64). The spinning efficiency of the two cottons was evaluated, on a pilot plant basis, in terms of ends down per thousand spindle hours. Waste, nep count, yarn properties (skein and single strand strength, break elonga tion, uniformity, and grade), and end breakage rate in spinning were similar for the blended and control cottons. Microscopical examination of yarn cross sections did not reveal any migratory tendencies of either the fine or coarse fibers. For the same yarn number the blended and control cottons produced yarns of similar diameters and softness values.