A Preliminary Investigation into the Feasibility of Gin Blending

Abstract

The biggest discounts to the grower are for grade, length and micronaire. Since round modules do not blend cotton from multiple parts of a field as conventional modules did, some round modules may fall below base grade. This study was initiated as a preliminary evaluation to determine the effect of gin blending on fiber, yarn and fabric processing performance and quality and the potential economic return to the grower. One lot of irrigated and dryland stripper-harvested seed cotton, with different pre-determined micronaire and length properties, were blended together in four different ratios (80/20%, 60/40%, 40/60% and 20/80%) at the gin and at the textile mill. The resulting two cottons and four blends were carded, ring spun, knitted, scoured, bleached and dyed. Based on the 2016 CCC loan schedule, gin blending can benefit the grower with the biggest economic benefit, about $5 per bale, obtained from the 80/20 and 60/40 blend ratios when using seed cotton with these particular qualities from this one-year study. Processing performance and yarn and fabric quality of the gin blended product were not different from that of the unblended cotton and the mill blended fiber, indicating no serious consequences associated with gin blending, cotton with this micronaire and length range, to the spinner.