ALTERATIONS OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LONG STAPLE COTTON BY COMBING, DRAWING, AND ROVING A THESIS Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate Division by Larry B. Whitworth In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Textiles Georgia Institute of Technology September, 1967 In presenting the dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, I agree that the Library of the Institute shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to copy from, or to publish from, this dissertation may be granted by the professor under -whose direction it was written, or, in his absence, by the Dean of the Graduate Division when such copying or publication is solely for scholarly purposes and does not involve potential financial gain. It is under­ stood that any copying from, or publication of, this dis­ sertation which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without written permission. 3/IT/65 b ALTERATIONS OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LONG STAPLE COTTON BY COMBING, DRAWING, AND ROVING Approved: ^' 4 : ; Chaii Date appr oved by Cha irman:^J^7/ /; /y^ . DEDICATED To my wonderful and loving Mother Mrs. Myrtice Littleton Whitworth Ill ACKNOWLEDGMENTS At the conclusion of this academic year of graduate study, the author would like to express sincere appreciation and gratitude to the following persons or organizations: Mr. Winston Boteler, thesis advisor. Mr. Richard B. Belser, for providing invaluable aid, advice and inspiration throughout the year. Dr. James L. Taylor, for providing a graduate assistantship to pursue graduate study. Dr. H. A. Peacock, Research Agronomist, United States Department of Agriculture, for providing assistance in data collection and personal consultation. Mr. Paul E. Hilley and Mr. J. Morgan Davis for allowing the col­ lection of specimens and valuable technical assistance. Mr. Conrad Meaders for assistance in frictional measurements. Mr. J. W. McCarty for use of instruments required for measurement. Mr. Ralph C. Lathem for his aid as a member of the reading committee. Mr. Jack R. Kilgore for valuable technical consultation. My fiancee, Carol Ann Dumas, for understanding and encouragement during the graduate study. My grandmother, Mrs. Corine W. Littleton for her faith and encouragement during my college career. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iii LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF FIGURES x SUMMARY xiii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of the Problem Purpose of Research Review of Literature II. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT 11 Raw Materials Processing Equipment Textile Processes Investigated Fiber Measurement Apparatus III. MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE 23 Sample Selection Length Distribution Measurement Strength Determinations Fiber Fineness Measurement Fiber Frictional Analysis Data Comparison Methods IV. EXPERIMENTAL WORK 37 General Fiber Strength Length Distribution Fiber Fineness V. DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 64 Introduction Fiber Length Distribution TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page Chapter Fiber Strength Measurements \ Fiber Fineness Fiber Friction Discussion VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 71 Conclusions Recommendations APPENDIX 74 BIBLIOGRAPHY 172 VI LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Summary of Average Values of Strength, Elongation, Fineness, and Friction of Processes Investigated 38 2. Summary of Coefficients of Static Friction for Processes Investigated 60 3. Summary of Coefficients of Kinetic Friction for Processes Investigated 62 4. Operating Data for Opening, Cleaning, and Picking 75 5. Operating Data for Piatt Revolving Flat Card 76 6. Operating Data for Ideal Drawing 77 7. Operating Data for Saco-Lowell Lap Winder 78 8. Operating Data for Saco-Lowell Model 140 Comber 79 9. Operating Data for Saco-Lowell Drawing 80 10. Operating Data for Saco-Lowell Rovematic Roving Frame 81 11. Operating Data for Saco-Lowell Spinning 82 12. Comber Lap Cotton Array Data 83 13. Comber Noil Cotton Array Data 84 14. Combed Sliver Cotton Array Data 85 15. Breaker Drawing Cotton Array Data 86 16. Finisher Drawing Cotton Array Data 87 17. Roving Cotton Fiber Array Data 88 18. Roving No Twist Cotton Array Data 89 19. Comber Noil Fibrograph Data 90 Vll LIST OF TABLES (Continued) Table Page 20. Comber Lap Digital Fibrograph Mean and Upper Half Mean Length Data 91 21. Comber Noil Digital Fibrograph Mean and Upper Half Mean Length Data 92 22. Combed Sliver Digital Fibrograph Mean and Upper Half Mean Length Data 93 23. Breaker Drawing Digital Fibrograph Mean and Upper Half Mean Length Data 94 24. Finisher Drawing Digital Fibrograph Mean and Upper Half Mean Length Data 95 25. Roving Digital Fibrograph Mean and Upper Half Mean Length Data 96 26. Comber Lap Tenacity at Zero Gauge Pressley 97 27. Comber Noil Tenacity at Zero Gauge Pressley 98 28. Combed Sliver Tenacity at Zero Gauge Pressley 99 29. Breaker Drawing Tenacity at Zero Gauge Pressley .... 100 30. Finisher Drawing Tenacity at Zero Gauge Pressley .... 101 31. Roving Tenacity at Zero Gauge Pressley 102 32. Comber Lap Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley .... 103 33. Combed Sliver Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley 104 34. Breaker Drawing Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley 105 35. Finisher Drawing Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley 106 36. Roving Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley 107 37. Comber Lap Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley* .... 108 Vlll LIST OF TABLES (Continued) Table Page 38. Combed Sliver Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley* 109 39. Breaker Drawing Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley* 110 40. Finisher Drawing Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Press ley* Ill 41. Roving Tenacity at One-Eighth Gauge Pressley* 112 42. Comber Lap Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Steloraeter 113 43. Combed Sliver Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer 115 44. Breaker Drawing Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer 117 45. Finisher Drawing Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer 119 46. Roving Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer 121 47. Comber Lap Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer* 123 48. Combed Sliver Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer* 124 49. Breaker Drawing Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer* 125 50. Finisher Drawing Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer* 126 51. Roving Tenacity and Elongation at One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer* 127 52. Comber Lap Single Fiber Strength and Elongation Data 128 53. Comber Noil Single Fiber Strength and Elongation Data 130 ix LIST OF TABLES (Continued) Table Page 54. Combed Sliver Single Fiber Strength and Elongation Data 132 55. Breaker Drawing Single Fiber Strength and Elongation Data 134 56. Finisher Drawing Single Fiber Strength and Elongation Data 136 57. Roving Single Fiber Strength and Elongation Data .... 138 58. Comber Lap Single Fiber Energy Measurements 140 59. Comber Noil Single Fiber Energy Measurements 142 60. Combed Sliver Single Fiber Energy Measurements 144 61. Breaker Drawing Single Fiber Energy Measurements .... 146 62. Finisher Drawing Single Fiber Energy Measurements " 148 63. Roving Single Fiber Energy Measurements 150 64. Comber Lap, Combed Sliver, and Comber Noil Fiber Fineness Data 152 65. Breaker Drawing, Finisher Drawing, and Roving Fiber Fineness Data 153 66. Friction Measurements for Comber Lap Fibers 154 67. Friction Measurements for Comber Noil Fibers 155 68. Friction Measurements for Combed Sliver Fibers 156 69. Friction Measurements for Breaker Drawing Fibers 157 70. Friction Measurements for Finisher Drawing Fibers 158 71. Friction Measurements for Roving Fibers 159 72. Friction Measurements for Yarn Fibers 160 X LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Cottons Producing Yams of Different Strengths But the Same Elongation for a 30/1 Yam 5 2, Cottons Producing Yarns of Approximately the Same Strength But Different Elongation for a 30/1 Yarn • •. 3. Relation of Fiber Average Stiffness to Yarn Average Stiffness at Twists for Maximum Single Strand Strength for a 30/1 Yarn 7 4. Sequence of Operations ....... 12 5. General Operation of Comber 14 6. General Operation of Drawing Frame 16 7. General Operation of Roving Frame 18 8A. Instron Tensile Testing Machine 21 SB. Enlarged View of Jaws . , 22 9. Fibrogram of Comber Noil Sample 40 10. Weight-Length Distribution of Comber Lap, Comber Noil, and Combed Sliver Specimens 41 11. Weight-Length Distribution of Breaker Drawing a:nd Finisher Drawing Specimens 42 12. Weight-Length Distribution of Finisher Drawing and Roving Specimens 43 13. Plot of Zero Gauge Pressley Tenacity Measurements Versus Selected Processes 46 14. Plot of One-Eighth Gauge Pressley Tenacity Measurements Versus Selected Processes 48 15. Plot of One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer Tenacity Measurements Versus Selected Processes , • . 50 XI LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure Page 16. Plot of One-Eighth Gauge Stelometer Elongation Measurements Versus Selected Processes 51 17. Instron Single Fiber Strength Measurements Versus Selected Processes 53 18. Instron Single Fiber Elongation Measurements Versus Selected Processes 54 19. Average Fiber Energy Break Measurements Versus Selected Processes 56 20. Plot of Micronaire Readings Versus Selected Processes 57 21. Plot of Average Coefficient of Kinetic Friction Versus Selected Processes 61 22. Plot of Average Coefficient of Static Friction Versus Selected Processes 63 23. Typical Friction Plot Exhibiting Damaged Fiber