Comprehensive Analysis of Cotton Fiber Infrared Maturity Distribution and Its Relation to Fiber HVI and AFIS Properties

Cotton fiber maturity has been reported as average maturity and maturity distribution in a sample, through measuring the fibers in the way of either an individual fiber cross-section or a longitude of several subsamples by cross-sectional image analysis (IA), advanced fiber information system (AFIS), and Cottonscope method. As a different approach, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy was proposed to estimate fiber maturity ( M IR ) and maturity distribution at a bundle fiber level on the basis of three M IR (low-, mid-, and high) classifications. Although maturity distributions from IA, AFIS, or Cottonscope measurement are reported, they are not related with high-volume instrument (HVI) and AFIS qualities considerably. Novelty of this study examined the effect of individual three M IR indices and additional M IR differentials on HVI and AFIS qualities in commercial cotton fibers. There were statistically significant and moderate-to-strong correlations between the M IR indices and fiber maturity and fineness measurements, and also moderate correlations between the M IR indices and other fiber qualities (for example, HVI strength). In particular, there was a moderate correlation between M IR readings and one fiber length parameter [AFIS L ( n )] or two short fiber content (SFC) properties [AFIS SFC( w ) and AFIS SFC( n )]. Meanwhile, M IR differential ( D 3 ) was observed to be correlated with HVI strength significantly and strongly. The result indicated the capability of ATR FT-IR spectroscopy for monitoring fiber maturity distribution in commercial cotton fibers and further in understanding fiber quality measurement.