It has been well documented by research studies in the United States and abroad that having the proper fiber moisture in seed cotton prior to ginning is beneficial during cleaning and at lint-seed separation. Lower than normal moisture enables the gin to clean the seed cotton and lint more efficiently, but it takes its toll on such fiber properties as strength and length, for example, mainly by increasing short fiber content less than 1/2-inch, and decreasing length uniformity. Higher than normal moisture preserves fiber length and length distribution, but adversely affects the cotton's cleanability and ginning rate.

Recently, textile manufacturers have become more keenly aware, since the addition of moisture at the gin bale press has been the subject of much discussion at various cotton conferences and research meetings, that controlling cotton's bale moisture, and moisture during in-plant yarn processing, may have positive potential for improving performance efficiencies and product quality throughout the manufacturing process.

Research studies by the USDA, Institute of Textile Technology, and various other cotton research and education organizations have shown that certain levels of moisture in cotton during yarn processing affects such fiber properties as strength, elongation, length and length distribution, short fiber content less than 1/2-inch, trash removal, and fineness. These impacted fiber properties affect processing performance and final yarn quality in many different ways.

The presentation will focus on how moisture in cotton affects its properties, and how these properties then impact textile plant performance and final yarn quality.