Rapid measurement of cotton fiber maturity and fineness by image analysis microscopy using the Cottonscope®

Two of the important cotton fiber quality and processing parameters are fiber maturity and fineness. Fiber maturity is the degree of development of the fiber's secondary wall, and fiber fineness is a measure of the fiber's linear density and can be expressed as mass per unit length. A well-known method for fiber maturity and fineness is a cross-section image analysis and microscopy measurement. In general, typical cross-section image analysis and microscopy methods for fiber maturity and fineness can be slow and tedious to perform. Much interest has been shown in improved and rapid routine measurements of fiber maturity and fineness in the laboratory. The Cottonscope (R) is a new small footprint instrument for measuring fiber maturity and fineness, consisting of a longitudinal measurement of weighted fiber snippets in water using polarized light microscopy and image analysis. A program was implemented to assess the potential and capabilities of the Cottonscope to measure cotton lint maturity and fineness and to determine the major operational impacts on the Cottonscope results. The measurement was fast and easy to perform. The major operational impact on the Cottonscope results was environmental conditions (room temperature and relative humidity), and its impact was a concern for fineness only. Very good method agreement was observed between the Cottonscope and image analysis and microscopy method for maturity and fineness, with moderate coefficients of determination, R(2)s, and low residuals. Recommended operational protocols for routine Cottonscope measurements were developed.