Rieter

Fiber maturity

Index

The cotton fiber consists of cell wall and lumen. The maturity index is dependent upon the thickness of this cell wall. Schenek  [1] suggests that a fiber is to be considered as mature when the cell wall of the moisture-swollen fi ber represents 50-80% of the round cross-section, as immature when it represents 30-45%, and as dead when it represents less than 25%. Since some 5% immature fibers are present even in a fully matured boll, cotton stock without immature fibers is unimaginable: the quantity is the issue.  ITMF recommended the Fiber Maturity Tester FMT for cotton maturity determination. Measurement by FMT gives the Maturity Index (MI) refred to by Lord and Heap  [3].

Immature fibers have neither adequate strength nor adequate longitudinal stiffness, they therefore lead to:

  • loss of yarn strength;
  • neppiness;
  • a high proportion of short fibers;
  • varying dyeability;
  • processing difficulties, mainly at the card.