47—THE ESTIMATION OF THE FINENESS AND STRENGTH OF COTTON FROM MEASUREMENTS OF MATURITY MADE BY THE COTTON GRADER

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Abstract
The best way, in theory as well as practice, to assess the quality characteristics of cotton is to determine the maturity index. From the maturity index, the fineness and the breaking strength of the fibre can be found for a known cotton quality. An accurate rapid method for the determination of the degree of maturity of cotton, which depends on the birefringency of the cell-wall, is described. The specific birefringency is a characteristic feature common to samples of cotton of the same breed, as in that case the path-difference between the α and γ rays is governed solely by the thickness of the cell-wall. When parallel cotton fibres are illuminated with plane-polarized light, the intensity of the transmitted beam can be used as a measure of the degree of maturity of the fibre. Examples of the results of tests, which can be made in a few minutes, and the derivation therefrom of fineness and breaking strength by means of tabulated data and graphs, are given. The results of the tests are claimed to be reproducible and independent of the moisture content of the fibre. The method is sensitive enough to detect small differences in maturity. The apparatus described has a wide field of application as the measured intensity of transmitted polarized light depends on the product of fineness (maturity) and birefringency. If one of these factors is known, the other can be calculated directly.

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