ASTM D1442-06(2019)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D1442 − 06 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Test Method for
Maturity of Cotton Fibers (Sodium Hydroxide Swelling and
Polarized Light Procedures)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1442; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Cotton Fibers by Photoelectric Measurement
D1464Practice for Differential Dyeing Behavior of Cotton
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the per-
D1776Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
centage of mature fibers in a sample of loose, chemically
D2480Test Method for Maturity Index and Linear Density
untreated cotton fibers, whether taken before processing or
of Cotton Fibers by the Causticaire Method (Withdrawn
unravelled from a textile product.
1992)
1.2 This test method gives two optional procedures for
D7139Terminology for Cotton Fibers
determining maturity, as follows:
1.2.1 Procedure 1—Sodium Hydroxide Swelling.
3. Terminology
1.2.2 Procedure 2—Polarized Light.
3.1 For all terminology relating to D13.11, Cotton Fibers,
NOTE 1—For other test methods for the determination of maturity of
refer to Terminology D7139.
cotton fibers refer to Test Methods D1464 and D2480.
3.1.1 The following terms are relevant to this standard:
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
cotton fiber maturity, immature fibers, in testing with sodium
standard. No other units of measure are included in this
hydroxide solutions (See Fig. 1 and Fig. 2), immature fibers,
standard.
observed under polarized light, lumen, mature fibers, in testing
with sodium hydroxide solutions (see Fig. 3), mature fibers,
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the observed under polarized light (see Table 1), micronaire
reading, test specimen, in cotton maturity test.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.2 For all other terminology related to textiles, refer to
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Terminology D123.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4. Summary of Test Method
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.1 Fibers are laid parallel on a microscope slide, covered
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
with a cover glass, treated with a mounting medium, and the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
magnified images are then classified as mature or immature
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
fibers.
2. Referenced Documents
4.2 The method offers two procedures for classifying the
fibers as mature or immature:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D123Terminology Relating to Textiles 4.2.1 Procedure 1, Sodium Hydroxide Swelling, which uses
an 18% solution of sodium hydroxide as the mounting
D1440Test Method for Length and Length Distribution of
Cotton Fibers (Array Method) medium and a laboratory microscope for viewing the fibers at
D1447Test Method for Length and Length Uniformity of a magnification of 400×.
4.2.2 Procedure 2, Polarized Light, which uses clear min-
eral oil as the mounting medium and requires a polarizing
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD13onTextiles
microscope giving a magnification of 100×. Fibers are classi-
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.11 on Cotton Fibers.
fied according to their second-order interference colors, using
CurrenteditionapprovedJuly1,2019.PublishedJuly2019.Originallyapproved
a first-order (or full wave) retardation plate (Table 1).
in 1952. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D1442–06 (2012). DOI:
10.1520/D1442-06R19.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
the ASTM website. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D1442 − 06 (2019)
FIG. 1 Mature Fiber
FIG. 2 Immature Fiber (Type A)
5. Significance and Use
than with the Sodium Hydroxide Swelling procedure. The
5.1 Informationregardingthepercentageofimmaturefibers
Polarized Light procedure gives a view of the fiber in its
is desirable because immature fibers: (1) break easily during
natural state so that fibrillar structure, striations, reversals, etc.,
processing; (2) have a tendency to form neps; (3) have a
areclearlyvisibleasaregrowthabnormalitiesandvariationsin
tendency to become entangled around particles of trash and
wall thickness. This method may be preferred by botanists,
leaf, thus making cleaning more difficult and increasing the
geneticists, and plant physiologists, while the Sodium Hydrox-
amount of fiber removed with foreign matter; (4) adversely
ide Swelling procedure may be preferred for routine testing of
affect yarn and fabric appearance; and (5) may appear differ-
large numbers of samples. Technicians are more easily trained
ently after dyeing.
for the latter method. Arbitrary classification as to maturity
5.2 Maturity has a high positive correlation with linear
must be made with both methods.
density, but genetic differences and differences in wall thick-
5.5 This method is not considered satisfactory for accep-
nesscausedbyplantdiseases,soil,andwaterconditionsduring
tancetestingbecausebetweenlaboratoryprecisioncanbepoor.
the growing season interfere with this relationship. Thus two
In some cases the purchaser and seller may have to test a
cottons having the same linear density, or having the same
commercial shipment of one or more specific material by an
average wall thickness as indicated by air-flow instruments,
appropriate method even though the method has not been
mayvarygreatlyinmaturity,thatis,acottonhavingextremely
recommendedforacceptancetestingofcommercialshipments.
variablewallthicknessmaycontainmoreimmaturefibersthan
In such a case, if there are differences of practical significance
another cotton of the same Micronaire reading composed of
between reported test results for two laboratories (or more),
fibers having very uniform wall thickness.
comparative tests should be performed to determine if there is
5.3 TheSodiumHydroxideSwelling(Procedure1)hasbeen
a statistical bias between them, using competent statistical
usedinjudgingothermaturitytestssuchastheCausticaireand
assistance. As a minimum, ensure the test samples to be used
the differential dye methods, in which the individual fibers are
are as homogeneous as possible, are drawn from the material
not examined.
from which the disparate test result were obtained, and
5.4 Finerdistinctionsbetweendifferentdegreesoffiberwall randomly assigned in equal numbers to each laboratory for
development can be made with the Polarized Light procedure testing. The test results from the two laboratories should be
D1442 − 06 (2019)
6.1.7 Mounting Medium, sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
solution, 18%, sp gr 1.197 6 0.002 at 60 to 70°F (16 to 20°C)
in a dropping bottle.
6.2 Procedure 2:
6.2.1 Polarizing Microscope equipped with a polarizer, an
analyzer, a first-order retardation plate, a cross-hair eyepiece
mounted so that the hairs make a 45° angle with the plane of
polarization, a rotatable, mechanical stage, and a microscope
lamp. The magnification must be at least 100×.
6.2.2 Mounting Medium, clear mineral oil in a dropping
bottle.
6.2.3 Other Apparatus as specified in 6.1.2 – 6.1.6 for
Procedure 1.
7. Safety Precaution
7.1 The sodium hydroxide solution used in Procedure 1 is
caustic and corrosive. Use care in its preparation and applica-
tion to avoid contact with the skin or with equipment, espe-
cially the microscope objective, which may be permanently
damaged if the solution is not removed immediately following
contact. Clear water and a soft tissue will remove the solution.
8. Sampling and Preparation of Specimens
8.1 Three sources of specimens may be used with either
procedure.IfSuter-Webbarraylengthgroupsarenotavailable,
FIG. 3 Immature Fiber (Type B)
either of the other two sources of specimens may be used.
8.1.1 OptionA—Suter-WebbArrayLengthGroups—Prepare
A
TABLE 1 Colors of Cotton Fibers Viewed with Polarized Light
the array length groups as directed in Method D1440. From
Without Retardation Plate With Retardation Plate
1 3
one array discard the ⁄16-in. (1.6-mm) and ⁄16-in. (4.8-mm)
Fiber Subtractive
Additive Colors
Classification First Order Colors
length groups and any other length groups containing less than
Second Order First Order
1 mg of fibers. From each length group remaining, remove a
Mature light yellow yellow light yellow
bundle of approximately 100 fibers by lengthwise separation
white green yellow
Immature gray-blue blue orange-yellow
beginning with the longest group. Place the fibers on a
gray purple orange
microscope slide, spread them carefully to a width of 30 to 40
A
Classified according to Mary Anna Grimes, “Polarized Light Preferred for
mm.Coverthefiberswithacoverglassandapplyadropofthe
Maturity Tests,” Textile World, February, 1945.
mounting medium to one corner. Tap the cover glass to cause
the mounting medium to spread more rapidly and help prevent
airbubbles.Marktheslidewiththelengthgroupidentification.
compared using statistical test for unpaired data, at a probabil-
The series of slides shall constitute a test specimen. Have a
ity level chosen prior to the testing series. If a bias is found,
second operator prepare a second test specimen from a second
either its cause must be found and corrected, or future test
array of the sample.
resultsforthatmaterialmustbeadjustedinconsiderationofthe
known bias.
NOTE 2—The sampling method described in 8.1.1 has been used for a
longer period of time and given slightly more reliable results than the
6. Apparatus and Reagents other sampling methods.
6.1 Procedure 1: 8.1.2 Option B, Laboratory Blended Samples—Take a sub-
sampleconsistingofasectionofsliverapproximately2in.(50
6.1.1 Microscope or Micropro
...