CRYSTALLINITY, PARTICLE-SIZE, AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF FIBERS IN SOME EGYPTIAN AND AMERICAN COTTON CULTIVARS

The main objective of this study was to measure the crystallinity, particle size, and mechanical properties of fibers and to assess their relationship in 18 Egyptian and American cotton cultivars. Remarkable variations in crystallinity were found, ranging between 49 and 90%, whereas the range of differences in particle size was somewhat narrow, and so its effect on mechanical properties was not detectable. The cotton cultivars that have higher values of crystallinity are characterized by higher values of tenacity at either 1/8 in. or zero gauge and stiffness and by reduced elongation. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.