A proposed ASTM International standard test method will cover the determination of maturity, fineness, ribbon width, and specific surface area (micronaire) of cotton fibers. ASTM International’s textiles committee (D13) is developing the proposed standard. 

This test method (WK75782) focuses on cotton fibers from a loose, chemically untreated sample taken before harvest, during ginning, during mill processing, or unraveled from raw yarn or fabric.

“The cross-sectional properties of cotton fibers are important across the cotton supply chain from breeding through to textile production and fabric appearance,” said Stuart Gordon, team leader at CSIRO Agriculture and Food. “A standard such as this that provides direct and quick assessment of a cotton fiber sample's properties has been a long-held ambition of the international cotton industry.”

According to Gordon, research laboratories, cotton merchants and spinners, and regulatory bodies will benefit from this proposed standard test method. Because the examination can be applied to fibers unraveled from yarn in a textile, the standard also has application in the forensic examination of textiles for quality assurance and identification purposes.

This effort directly relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #12 on responsible consumption and production.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN. 

Media Inquiries: Jaime Martorana, tel +1.610.832.9796; jmartorana@astm.org
Committee Contact: Nora Nimmerichter, tel +1.610.832.9815; nnimmerichter@astm.org 

Release #11267

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