A New Approach for Evaluating the Frictional Behavior of Cotton Fibers

Abstract

This study presents a new approach for characterizing the frictional behavior of cotton fibers. Fiber-to-fiber or fiber-to-metal friction is determined over length incre ments of a fiber fringe, each containing a different number of contacting fibers. The total sliding distance corresponds to the maximum fiber length in the sample. The resulting relationship between frictional force and sliding distance is termed the "friction profile" of fibers, and it can be used to determine the frictional force corresponding to a certain fiber intensity. The nonlinear nature of this profile is represented by an equation of the form F = a_o( n_f) ^{2(1- n)}, where n f is an estimated value of the number of contacting fibers, F is the frictional force, and a_o and n are friction indexes. Using the principle of the fiber friction profile, a measuring technique is described for mea suring both fiber/ fiber and fiber/metal friction parameters. This technique is believed to simulate fiber friction in both processing and deformation modes. Although friction in this study was measured only for cotton, other kinds of staple fibers (natural or synthetic) can also be tested.