A Comparative Study On Parameters Used for Characterizing Cotton Short Fibers

The quantity of short cotton fibers in a cotton sample is an important cotton quality parameter.  It impacts yarn production performance and yarn quality.  Researchers have proposed different parameters for characterizing the amount of short fibers in a cotton sample.  We report a comprehensive investigation that compared various short cotton fiber parameters reported in the literature.  The comparisons were focused on 1) The variations of these parameters; 2) Their relationships with the traditional Short Fiber Content (SFC); and 3) their capabilities in predicting yarn properties.  The advantage of the new short fiber parameter – Lower Half Mean Length – is discussed.