CHARACTERIZING CONVOLUTIONS NN COTTON FIBER AND THEIR EFFECTS ON FIBER STRENGTH

An image analysis procedure was developed to quantify several morpholo gical parameters of convolutions in individual cotton fibers. The imag e of each fiber was captured by a PC-based color imaging system using a conventional microscope. A modified watershed technique was implemen ted to identify individual convolutions in a single fiber. Length, are a, and perimeter of each convolution segment were measured directly fr om the image. Average width, shape factor and number of convolution se gments were calculated from the measured parameters. The tensile stren gths of individual fibers were measured by Mantis(R) Single Fiber Tens ile Tester By measuring convolution characteristics of cotton fiber no ndestructively the image analysis allowed us to study relationship bet ween convolution characteristics and tensile properties of a single fi ber.