Relationship Between Cotton Fiber Strength and Cellulose Molecular Weight Distribution: HVI Calibration Standards

Abstract

High volume instrument (HVI) classing of the U.S. cotton crop has focused attention on fiber quality, particularly strength. Characteristic of polymers is the relationship between molecular weight and physical properties. Cotton fibers composed mostly of the polymer cellulose were dissolved in the solvent N,N-dimethylacetamide with lith ium chloride without cleanup or derivatization. Molecular weight distributions were determined by automated, nonaqueous gel permeation chromatography; HVI calibra tion standard cottons possessing a range of fiber lengths and strengths were sampled. Molecular compositional profiles indicate correlation of higher average molecular weight with greater strength of cotton fibers.