A Study on Wax Content and its Relation to Moisture Regain and Tensile Strength of Cotton Fiber

Abstract

The wax content of cotton and its relation to moisture regain and fiber bundle strength was studied on 22 cotton varieties belonging to four different botanical species, with a wide range of fiber characteristics. Determination was also made of moisture regain and bundle strength of raw and dewaxed cottons at 65 and 85% RH. The wax content varied widely from 0.35% to 1.19%, the mean wax content for all the varities being 0.61%. Dewaxed cottons showed higher bundle strength and lower moisture regain than the same raw cottons at both the levels of RH. The probable reasons for these are explained. The correlation coefficient between the wax content and the bundle strength was positive and significant at 5% level at 65% RH. However, the significance disappeared when barbadense cottons, which were stronger and had higher wax content, were excluded. The correlation coefficient between the wax content and moisture regain was, however, negative and significant at 5% level at 65% RH and negligible at 85% RH. Fiber bundle strength of raw and dewaxed cottons showed a high correlation of +0.93.