University of Management and Technology

Fiber Science
ASSIGNMENT NO 1
Submitted to: Miss Qurbat
Submitted by: Rahila Pervaiz
14027035001

Factors that affect the staple length of cotton, wool and silk
COTTON
Cotton is a cultured, natural product and is always referred as a non-homogeneous
raw material. It exhibits variation from fibre to fibre, bale to bale, area to area, and
season to season due to climatic conditions, growing areas and harvesting methods
etc. Quality parameters of cotton viz. fibre length and fineness have a vital
influence upon the ultimate yarn strength.
Fibre length is the most important cotton fibre character which determines the
amount by which fibres can overlap with one another, greater the overlapping; the
easier it would be for the fibres to bound together and better would be yarn
strength. This means that fibre length have a direct influence on yarn strength and
could be negatively affected by shorter span length
Factors Influencing Length:
Staple length is primarily determined by variety. Certain varieties produce longer
fibers than others. For instance, the premium quality of Pima cottons is partly due
to their staple that averages 46 (1.44 inches). However, environmental influences
such as temperature, water and potassium availability can modify a variety's
genetic potential for this fiber trait. Extreme heat or uncommon cold can limit fiber
length. Temperatures drive the plant's metabolism. Cold weather will slow cell
expansion, although in mid-summer this is probably not a consideration. On the
other hand, extreme heat during the day and/or night will limit the availability of
carbohydrates for cellulose production. This may reduce overall staple length if the
plant is under drought stress or if nighttime temperatures are abnormally high.
Both potassium and water are needed for cell expansion or, in this case, fiber
elongation. Potassium deficiency during the first 16 to 25 days of boll development
can limit fiber elongation within a given boll. Compared to yield, staple length is
less sensitive to drought. Water stress that is sufficient to significantly reduce fiber
length will have a more profound effect on boll numbers and yields. Mechanical
damage during ginning and lint cleaning can also reduce fiber length. When lint is
over dried, breakage is increased and average staple length is decreased. Over-

drying is more likely when cotton differing in moisture levels is ginned at the same
time. One may be over-dried and unnecessarily damaged in an effort to adequately
dry the other.
WOOL
The staple length of the wool is the length of the staple, and highly correlated with
mean fibre length in the top (hauteur).Staple length generally determines the end
use of wool, that is, whether it will be used in weaving or knitting. The longer
wools, generally around 51 mm and longer and called combing types, are
processed to worsted yarn. Short-stapled wools are more profitably used in
the woolen section where high-grade material may be produced from superfine
wool. Although traditionally staple length only referred to animal fibres, it is now
also used when referring to manufactured fibres.
Staple length is measured from the base to the tip of the upstretched fiber. Longerstapled wools are more valuable. Length also adds more weight to the fleece than
any other single characteristic. Strength is another important aspect of staple
length. Strength determines wool's ability to withstand vigorous cleaning and
manufacturing. Tender wool or wool with breaks in the fiber greatly diminishes the
value of the fleece.
Factors affecting the staple length of wool:
Natural or inherited characteristics of the breed for example, a staple of wool
should be longer than merino of the same fineness and grown under the same
conditions.
Individuality of strain: Length can be increased within a breed by selective
breeding.
Nutrition and health: This is a very big factor. An abundance of well-balanced feed
stimulates growth whereas starved or diseased sheep grow shorter and finer wool.
On a low plane of nutrition, the secondary fibres are frequently more quickly
affected in length and fineness, leaving the primary fibres longer and shorter, and
showing a wider variation between two groups.
Age of sheep: As sheep age, the rate of growth slows down.

Climate: Naturally climate alters the nutrition and indirectly the health of the sheep
and its covering; however, irrespective of nutrition and health, temperature has a
slight effect on growth rate, Wool growth is increased by an increase in
temperature.
Pregnancy and Lactation: In the latter stages of pregnancy and when suckling a
lamb, especially when nutrition is low, a slowing of growth results.
Silk
Silk is one of the popular fabrics for apparel because of its unique properties. Silk
is most luxurious fabric, the most comfortable fabric, the most absorbent of fabrics
(equal to wool), the best fabric for drape, the best fabric for color, capable of the
greatest luster, having the finest "hand" etc. These are some of the factors which
make the fabric more popular. The fabric is cool in summer and warm in winter.