ABSTRACT
Natural waxes and lubricants are essential for efficient textile processing of cotton fibers. Research has shown that cotton containing a higher level of natural waxes produced stronger yarns. Studies have also shown that natural wax is also a significant contributor to fabric strength. Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance has provided a simple method to rapidly measure the amount of total extractable and wax content in bales prepared for market. Reported herein are NIR measurements for a series of cottons produced commercially in different locations from 1990 through 1994. NIR wax results are also reported for a series of experimental cottons grown in breeder plots during 1996 at USDA, ARS, Florence, SC.
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