Measuring the Short Fiber Content of Cotton

A selection of cotton samples is tested with the Suter-Webb Array, AFIS (advanced fiber information system), and HVI (high volume instrument) methods. Short fiber contents as measured by these different methods show significant differences and high variations. The calibration level is one of the major factors causing these differences. Provided all other conditions are the same, a shift of 0.01 inch in fiber length calibration can cause an approximately 0.37% absolute value change in measured short fiber content based on the average of the test data. Based on the results from AFIS tests and computer simulation, sample nonuniformity, which is a characteristic of cotton fibers, contributes a major portion of the variation of the measured short fiber content.