Check Sample Testing of Physical Properties of Cotton with Instruments

Abstract

The series of interlaboratory check tests of the physical properties of cotton fibers summarized below represents the first large-scale effort to determine the extent to which different laboratories agree or disagree in their measurements of the fiber properties of length, strength, and fineness. Insetting up these tests, the labora tories were instructed to use their regular test procedures and no effort was made to achieve uniformity of procedure. No one should, therefore, attempt to read into the report reproducibility of results in terms of equipment or methods. It is ex pected that the interlaboratory check sample tests will be continued, and that they will ultimately lead to precisely defined methods that should result in a much better agreement between laboratories. The Task Group on Inter-Laboratory Check Sample Testing of Cotton Fibers has approved the publication of a summary of the restilts of this first series of tests for the information of all laboratories interested in cotton fiber measurements.—Walter M. Scott.†