Abstract
An investigation was made of the effect to exposure of high-intensity airborne acoustic waves on the physical and chemical properties of Deltapine and Acala 4-42 cotton. From the results of our experiments it appears that, with the exception of small changes in tensile strength, the fibers of both varieties of cotton do not seem significantly modified until one reaches the threshold of cellulose combustion. It has also been clearly estab lished that the most important factors which control sound to heat degradation in cotton fibers mass are the apparent density of the fibers bundle and the amount of acoustic energy radiated per gram of sample. It has also been shown that at equal intensity levels the sound degradation mechanisms seem to be frequency dependent and exhibit a maximum in the 22 kcps region. The peak sound intensity at any point of an irradiated fibers bundle determines the flash point of cellulose combustion.
Regarding sound degradation rate and combustion threshold, no significant difference was noted between the Deltapine cotton grown under conditions of natural rainfall and the Acala 4-42 grown under irrigated conditions. It has also been confirmed that due to rapid sound degradation and damping phenomena high intensity airborne acoustic waves are of very little help to separate trash from cotton fiber masses.
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