Theoretical and Experimental Profiles of Fiber Fineness and Maturity Using the Shirley Micromat and the Zellweger Uster Advanced Fiber Information System Module

Abstract

Past research has demonstrated that the fundamental properties of wall thickness and perimeter, computed from the fmt (Micromat model) readings, produce better correlations with the Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) near-infrared high volume instrumentation (nir hvi) than similar property data from the afis fineness and maturity module. (The nir hvi analyzes about 3,000,000 fibers or 30 g, the Micromat 400,000 fibers or 4 g, and the afis 5000 fibers or 0.05 g, a single fiber at a time.) To help understand these differences in correlation, we probe the random and systematic variations in the Micromat and afis data using appropriate data analysis techniques. We present descriptive statistics and an internal correlation of paired means from replicate measurements, and we compare the fit of wall thickness versus perimeter with the expected theoretical fit. Preliminary results suggest that the Micromat is more robust in representing changes in mean wall thickness and perimeter values. Direct comparison of wall thickness and perimeter from each method shows that although the relationships are highly significant, the values are different.