A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Short Fiber Content on Drafting Force and its Variability

Abstract

ABSTRACT Fiber length is one of the most important factors affecting the drafting force and its variability. By analyzing the draftometer data, the interaction between the dynamic drafting force and its variability with respect to the short fiber content of carded cotton sliver is discussed. Two cotton slivers with similar physical properties, except for their short fiber content (i.e.8.8% and 5.3%) were tested. An increase in drafting force and a decrease in its coefficient of variance (CV%) was noticed for the sample with higher short fiber content. With back gauge increase (from 43mm to 51 mm), the drafting force decreased and its variability increased, irrespective of short fiber content. The inter-fiber cohesion generally decreased, with widened roller settings. It was shown that a broader distribution of fiber length in an assembly of fibers created, more contact points in the strand being aligned by the drafting process. The CV of drafting force increased as we moved from the smaller back ratch to a wider one, which also contributed to sliver irregularity.