A Qualitative Approach to Estimating Cotton Spinnability Limits

Cotton spinnability. or spinning potential. is traditionally determined based on the number of ends-down occurring under controlled spinning conditions. No yarn quality considerations are included in this spinning potential concept, which is representative only of the performance of a given fiber during spinning. Using measurements of thin places in ring spun yarns as the surrogate variable representing yarn quality, a new "quality potential" component is added to the traditional spinnability notion. Spinnability limits are determined on the basis of yarn quality, and a new spinning potential definition that captures both critical aspects of spinning performance and yarn quality is advanced.