Critical Difference

Submitted to:
Dr. A Mukhopadhyay
Professor
Department of Textile Technology
NIT Jalandhar

Submitted by:
Sandeep Yadav (12110067)
Pritpal Singhv (12110054)
Bipanpreet Kaur (12110019)
Santosh Kumar
Sudarshan

CRITICAL DIFFERENCE
Experimental works are carried out by research associations to
assess the variability in average values of the parameters (for
e.g. yarn and fibre properties) and to fix these values so that
manufacturers can use these values as base while dealing with
test data. Critical difference is the measure of the difference
between two values that arises due to natural or unavoidable
causes.

Some Interpretations:
With the advent of a large number of testing instruments, it has
become possible to test various aspects of the quality of textile
materials and therefore present a large volume of data to the
manager for decision making. However the interpretation of the
test data is made more complex due to the instrumental and
sampling errors associated with the data. Experimental work
has been carried out by research associations to assess the
variability of each property of fibre and yarn and to fix the
levels of variability in average values, which manufacturers
could then accept as a base while dealing the test data. This
variability has been expressed in terms of critical difference.
With the help of such values the test data can be interpreted
meaningfully.

When the difference between the two values exceeds the

critical difference, then the two values are said to be
statistically different.
The CD depends upon the:1. CV%
2. The number of tests carried out to determine the quality
characteristics.

The values of CD for different fibre and yarn properties are

given in tables below.

s. no.
1
2
3
4

5
6

S no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Fibre property
2.5%
span
length
Uniformity ratio
Micronaire value
Fibre strength at
3mm
gauge
length
Maturity
coefficient
Trash content

No. of tests
CD%
4 combs/sample 4

Yarn property
Lea count
Strength
Single
yarn
strength - Uster
Evenness U%
Twist single
yarn
Twist Double
yarn
Yarn
appearance

No. of tests
40
40
10

CD%
2
4
2.8

5
50

7
3.4

50

4 combs/sample 5
4 plugs/sample 6
10
5
fibres/sample
600
fibre/ 7
sample
8 tests/sample
7

5
boards
readings

10 Half a grade or
5 grade index

These values are based on the recommended no. of tests for

each yarn and fibre property. If however the number of tests,
to be carried out are different from recommended no. then
the CD would vary from the values reported. Under such

circumstances, a new CD must be computed using the

formula:-

New CD%= CD %( table 1st and 2nd) *(

N 1
N2 )

Where N1 = number of tests recommended in tables 1 st and

2nd
N2 = the number of tests actually conducted

It may be noted that:

1. An increase in CV% would increase CD and
2. An increase in number of tests (N2) would decrease CD

FIBRE TEST DATA

In following section some of the major problems encountered
commonly in the mills are discussed.

Consistency between basic and the delivery samples

A mill received a basic sample of Shankar-6 cotton whose
micronaire value on testing was found to be 4.0. The delivery
sample had a micronaire value of 3.8. is the delivery sample
acceptable. 4 tests were carried out on both the basic and
delivery samples to determine the micronaire value.

The extent of variation between the 2 samples is computed

as follows:Difference in micronaire values between samples = 4-3.8 = .
2
Average micronaire values of two samples = (4.0 +3.8)/2=
3.9
Difference
expressed
(0.2/3.9)*100=5.13%

as

of

the

samples=

The CD for micronaire values as per table 2 nd = 6%

Since the actual difference of 5.13% is less than 6% the

delivery sample could be considered as not significantly
different to the basic sample as far as the micronaire value is
concerned. In above example the CD is computed on the
basis of mean of the micronaire values of basic and delivered
samples.
This is because when two samples are compared to
determine their difference, the allowable limits for the CD
should be fixed based on the average of the two samples. If
the data is to be compared with a specific value then a
different procedure should be adopted e.g.
A mill wants to purchase a cotton of 3.7 micronaire value to
spin 60s count. The cotton sample received from a supplier
was tested for a micronaire and it was found to be 4.0 ( on
the basis of four tests). The mill technician now needs to
know whether the cotton sample conforms to his
requirements or not.

Difference in micronaire values between the specific value

(3.7) and actual value (4) = 4 3.7=0.3

Difference expressed
(0.3/0.7)*100 = 81%

as a% of the specific

value =

Since the mean value is being compared with a specific

value, the CD should be calculated on the basis of specific
value.

The CD for micronaire value in table = 6%

Since the actual difference of 81% is higher than CD of 6%,

the mill could not purchase cotton from that supplier. In the
same way, the data on the fibre length, strength, fineness,
maturity and trash could be analysed with proper use of CD
values as reported in the table.

Yarn test data

Here we cover the common problems and respective
solutions in spinning division of most of the mills.
Pinion changes in ring frame

Mill D spins 60s Ne using a specific variety of cotton. A

random sample of 40 cops is taken from a spinning frame
and the count is checked by taking one lea from each cop.
The average count is found to be 62 s Ne. The problem is to
ascertain whether changing the draft wheel in the spinning
frame is necessary to correct the count.

Difference between the actual count and nominal count =

62-60 = 2

For reasons explained earlier, the percentage difference is

calculated in basis of nominal count.
Thus the difference expressed as a percentage difference is
calculated on the basis of nominal count = (2/60)*100 =3.3%
Since the difference of 3.3% is greater than the CD value of
2%, the cont of the yarn from the particular spinning frame is
significantly different from the other. But while making the
wheel changes to correct the count, the limitation imposed
by mechanical factors should be taken into account. A
change in pinion is only advantageous when the true
deviation from the desired count exceeds C/2A, where C is
nominal count and A is the number of teeth in the change
pinion.

In the present problem,

C/2A=60/(2*50) = 0.6 i.e. 1%

Since the actual difference of 3.3% is greater than the sum of

the CD and mechanical errors (2% +1%), wheel changes
could be recommended in the spinning frame to correct the
count.

Yarn evenness between the samples

Mill E Produces 40s yarn. While testing two samples from

different spinning frames for evenness, the U% values are
found to be 13.8 and 15 respectively on the basis of the
observations in each case. It is then necessary to assess
whether the yarn produced in the frame is even or not
Because ten tests were done to assess u% the CD of 7%
given in the table needs correction.

Using,
New CD %=( 7* (5/10) ) = 5%
The difference between the two samples expressed as a
percentage of the average = (1.2/14.4)*100 = 8.3%
Since the actual difference 8.3% is higher than the CD of 5 %, it
can be concluded that the two yarn samples are not even.

Average and minimum CSP

Mill F produces 50s P/V yarn for the export market. The mill
intends to produce yarn with minimum CSP of 2500 and CV
strength of 6%. The mill would like to decide the average CSP it
has to achieve so that the minimum CSP is 2500.

The relationship between the average and minimum CSP is

given by the formula:
Average CSP = (Minimum CSP * 100)/ (100-3CV)
Average CSP = (2500*100)/ (100-18) = 3049
Thus, if the mill aims at an average CSP of 3049 with a CV of
strength not greater than 6% then it can expect to produce a
yarn with a minimum CSP of 2500.