Evaluating staple fiber processing propensity - Part II: Processing propensity of polyester/cotton blends

This part of our study focuses on an analysis of the fiber processing propensity of polyester fibers and cotton/polyester blends. Using the modified rotor ring system discussed in Part I, we conduct several experiments and obtain some interesting results indicating that polyester fibers have a uniquely different processing propensity than cotton fibers, and that different kinds of polyester fibers may behave differently during processing. When polyester fibers are blended with cotton fibers, the processing propensity of the blend varies in a nonlinear fashion with respect to the behavior of the individual components. When repeated processing runs are considered, cotton fibers require lower energy for opening than the first pun, while polyester fibers require substantially higher energy. Finally, the proposed processing propensity measures correlate well with parameters characterizing actual processing performance, including nep count and short fiber content of fibers and cohesion of actual drawn slivers.