Index of Blend Irregularity -- Concept and Application.

Blending is a vital stage in cotton fiber processing and yarn manufacturing. Coplan and Klein developed an index of blend irregularity (IBI) equation to measure the variation in blend proportion against the theoretically expected value for random mixing. Blend composition, number of fibers in the yarn cross section, and fiber fineness aff..

Charlie, James and Gloria Hold the Clues to Fitness for Purpose.

The Hohenstein Institute, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials and Research, and the University of Leeds are the leading organization in research into all aspects of performance fabrics and finishes for outdoor apparel. Each uses computerized test manikins to evaluate fabric performance, including water resistance, wind resistance, an..

Instrumentation and Automation: Measuring Temperature.

Temperature is the measurement of the thermal energy of an object. Definitions of temperature scales are arbitrary. Industrial thermometers can be nonelectrical (bimetallic, mechanical, or thermal filling systems) or electrical (thermocouples and thermoresistors). Bimetallic thermometers are suitable for occasional monitoring and where ce..

Image Analyzer -- Concepts and Applications.

The digital image analyzer consists of a microscope, charge couple device, camera, imaging board, and personal computer for digitizing and processing images. This testing machine converts real microscopic (gray scale) images into a two dimensional digital matrix of rows and columns, with every matrix element corrleating to a gray scale va..

A Closed Pneumatic Conveying System for Cotton.

The closed loop principle to eliminate external air exhaust can help the cotton ginning industry meet stricter air quality standards. Tests comparing a closed loop pneumatic suction unloading system with a conventional open exhaust suction unloading system demonstrated that the closed loop system can operate at a performance level equal t..

Bioremediation of Sticky Cotton

An investigation into bioremediation as a tool for removing honeydew deposits on cotton that result from late season insect infestations examined the ability of plant associated yeast to digest the sugars found in aphid and whitefly honeydew and evaluated carbon dioxide flux as a means of monitoring microbial activity on cotton lint. In v..

Textile Processing Evaluation of Southeastem Cottons.

An investigation into the effect of cotton fiber properties on yarn processability and end product quality tested textiles manufactured from five cotton varieties from South Carolina and an ultra narrow row cotton from North Carolina. Variety and number of lint cleaners influenced fiber properties, spinning performance, and yarn quality. ..

Survey of Metals Found in Non-Domestic Raw Cottons.

High levels of certain metals may cause problems in yarn and fabric manufacture, dyeing, finishing, and textile waste treatment. A comparison of metals occurring in raw cottons from Africa, the People's Republic of China, Greece, Syria, Russia, and the United States determined that metal content in foreign cotton in much more variable tha..

Technical and Industrial End-Uses for Fibre: Growth Markets of the Future.

Technical and industrial end uses account for approximately 19 percent of conventional manmade and natural textile fiber consumption in Europe. Unconventional fibers used in this sector include tapes; monofilaments; asbestos; and jute, sisal, glass, ceramic, and steel fibers. Conventional textile fibers, polypropylene tape, monofilaments,..

The U.S. and World Cotton Outlook.

Estimates of world cotton production predict increases of more than 3 percent in 1999-2000, with most of the increase occurring in the United States. World cotton consumption is also forecast to increase by an estimated 3.3 percent. A significant percentage of the United States supply will flow into world markets. Larger exports, however,..