ABSTRACT
In cotton fiber spinning, raw cotton is the prime factor that influences the quality of yarn. The main technological challenge in any textile process is to convert the high variability in the characteristics of input fibers to a uniform end product. This critical task is mainly achieved in the mixing process, provided three basic requirements are met-accurate information about fiber properties, capable blending machinery, and consistent input fiber profiles. Mixing has a significant impact on the end-product cost and quality. Mixing could be thought of combining fibers together in somewhat haphazard proportions whose physical properties are only partially known so that the resultant mixture has only generally known average physical properties that are not easily reproducible; the term “ mixing” is generally meant as the intermingling of different classes of fibers of the same or similar grades, which are nearly alike in staple length. Fiber processors seek to acquire the highest quality cotton at the lowest price and attempt to meet processing requirements by blending bales with different average fiber properties. Blends that fail to meet processing specifications show marked increases in processing disruptions and product defects that cut into the profits of the yarn and textile manufacturers.
