Friction in textile fibers and its role in fiber processing

Textile fibers are characterized by many parameters, used by both researchers and industrial users. Many studies focus on the effect of fiber length, fineness, maturity (only for cotton), tensile properties, etc. on the properties of intermediate products and yarns. Contrary, few studies concerning the fiber surface properties, especially the inter-fiber friction, appear in the scientific literature. A new and simple device is designed and used in this. It enables the measurement of inter-fiber friction force during the dissociation of an ordinary sliver. Contrary to what has previously been mentioned in the scientific literature, the study of a set of different cottons shows that the inter-fiber friction seems to obey the Amontons’ law rather than a more complex power law model. The calculated inter-fiber friction coefficient helps to differentiate the different types of cotton and to bring to the fore the non-negligible effect of the friction on yarn irregularity and imperfections, affecting the yarn tenacity indirectly. Meanwhile, this work has revealed a curious grouping of different types of cotton, which is not observed before. This phenomenon is undoubtedly due to the surface properties of fibers.