The Detection of Cotton Identity Theft: Fiber Evaluation

This paper aims at detecting cotton fiber type at the raw fiber stage or after being extracted from a yarn or a fabric. Evaluation of cotton fiber properties from bale or after an intermediate spinning process is commonly and successfully made using Uster^® HVI or AFIS machines. In case of having cotton yarn or fabric or a finished product, the use of these machines is impossible. Evaluation of the properties of extracted from yarns single cotton fibers is usually done manually. This incorporates a great deal of variability in addition to tediousness.  This paper introduces two unconventional ways to evaluate cotton fiber identity: viscosity of a fiber solution and fiber dynamic sonic modulus. These methods have never been used for cotton fiber identification. The results show that these two methods can detect distinguished differences between different cotton types. However, the results also pose many challenges in this critical area that can only be overcome through extended research to create a reliable database.