The shape of the fiber in the cotton boll just before natural dehydration was studied by different preparation techniques. The results all pointed to the fact that never dried fibers have a circular cross section. Therefore, a simple observation of never dried fibers on equatorial optical plane provides a correct evaluation of basic dimensional parameters such as section diameter and wall thickness.
A novel microscopical technique was used for direct measurement of the dimensions of never dried fibers, fibers swollen with water, and fibers swollen in sodium hydroxide. An extensive comparative study revealed that the original state of never dried fibers cannot be recovered when using seed cotton or bale cotton. No clear relation could
Never dried fibers have a circular cross section but a very irregular profile. Fiber length is not a good parameter for the characterization of the final product of fiber growth. A simple, fast, and accurate method is proposed for determining the mean volume of a significant population of never dried fibers. The technique does not need sophisticated instruments and can be applied directly in cotton growing areas.
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