SEM Studies of the Fracture Morphology of Single Cotton Fibers

Abstract

The fractured ends of single cotton fibers ruptured as a result of tensile strain, as well as cyclic bending fatigue, were examined in the scanning electron microscope. Interesting differences in fracture patterns were observed for fibers broken by the two methods. The study includes raw cotton as well as slack-mercerized fibers, and differences brought about as a result of swelling are described.