Other important cotton fiber quality measurements are short fiber content, neps, immature fiber, and stickiness. These quality attributes are not part of the classing system but can have major influence on textile processing.
Short fibers in cotton reduce textile processing efficiency and product quality. Short fiber content (SFC) is defined as the percentage of fibers shorter than half-inches. SFC is typically measured by the Uster Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS). SFC can also be determined from HVI measurements of fiber length and uniformity. Each method provides different numbers but can identify variability in SFC between treatment samples.
Neps are small entanglements of cotton fibers created as cotton is manipulated mechanically or pneumatically. Neps are typically measured by AFIS however there are other manual methods sometimes used. Neps are formed at every stage of the ginning processing. Clumps of immature fibers, which are sometimes called shinny neps, pose particular problems when they are dyed deep colors in certain cotton fabrics. Shinny neps, or white specks, because they do not dye uniformly, are clearly visible in the fabric. Variety, environment, and crop management are more important in eliminating these fibers from the bale.
Stickiness in cotton is often caused in the field by white flies or aphid deposits often referred to as honeydew. Stickiness in extreme cases can cause problems with material flow in the gin, wrapping on feeders and saws. Stickiness can also shut down a textile mill by clogging up cards and spinning frames. Problems with sticky cotton are most often seen in arid cotton production regions where rainfall does not wash the deposits from the fiber. Mechanical and chemical methods are used to measure or rank the amount of stickiness in the fiber.
