Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fibre Maturity
Fibre Maturity
Fibre Maturity
Maturity is a dimensional characteristic of
natural cellulose fibres especially cotton
It indicates how well-developed the fibres are at
harvest
It is associated with the development of
cellulose in the secondary wall
It is extremely important in terms of downstream processing and yarn/fabric quality
Maturity and fineness are interrelated, although
not in a simple way
kidney-bean shape
On the plant
Dry
Mature/Over-mature
Immature
Dead
Cause neps clumps of
4
matted fibres
Cellulose
Lumen
Ao
A
Idealised cross-section of a cotton fibre
A = area occupied by cellulose
Degree of thickening ()
Value of Lumen
width/wall
thickness
Class
Between 0 and 1
Mature
Between 1 and 2
Half mature
Above 2
Immature
Average Degree of
cell wall
thickening
Class
0.79
Normal
0.41
Thin walled
0.23
Dead
Percentage of
mature fibres
Percentage of mature fibres (PM) = (m
t) 100
where
m = total number of mature fibres, and
t = total number of observations
Maturity
Coefficient
where
m = percentage of mature fibres,
h = percentage of half mature fibres, and
i = percentage of immature fibres.
Maturity Ratio
M = 0.7 + (N-D)/200
Methods to determine
Maturity
Direct measurement methods
Fiber cross-section image analysis
Causticare - Caustic soda Swelling method
Indirect measurement methods
AFIS - optical sensor
Cottonscope polarized light microscopy and
image analysis
Differential dyeing method
HVI also provides Maturity value
Unavailability of a rapid and precise measurement
of fiber maturity
Cottonscope
Cotton fibers assume different colors
according to their wall thickness
when they are examined through a
microscope fitted with a crossed
polarizer
Fibers that have very thin walls
appear violet or indigo, immature
fibers appear blue, and mature
fibers appear yellow