It is worth mentioning that in Russian cotton was originally called cotton paper. In many classic literary works you can find the expression “paper cap”. And this is not at all a headdress made of the paper we are now familiar with, but just a wardrobe item made of cotton fabric. Therefore, the concepts “cotton” and “cotton” are identical.

Where does cotton come from?

It comes from cotton. It is a shrub reaching from 0.5 to 3 meters in height depending on the species. It has a spiral arrangement of leaves and a tap root system. About 40 species of cotton are known, but only a few of them are cultivated.

The bud blooms into a flower, then self-pollination occurs, the flower turns into a box, which begins to ripen and opens (Hlopok tsvetok and Hlopok korobochka). Fibers sprouted from seeds (Odin hlopchatnik) are exposed to light.

Each fiber is a dead tubular cell. Its length is several thousand times greater than its width. It consists mainly of cellulose, but in its raw form also contains some resins and waxes.

Cotton is thermophilic. The ideal temperature for it is around 30°C. Loves sun and moisture. Does not grow well in cool or hot weather. The leading countries in cotton exports are China, India and the USA.

Cotton collection and processing

Cotton plantations are so vast (Cotton pole) that cotton is harvested by mechanization. However, this method has the disadvantage of introducing unnecessary parts of the plant into the harvest. Manual assembly is much more accurate, but ten times less productive.

The collected cotton is cleaned. It happens like this. Cotton bales arrive from collection points to the manufacturing plant. There they are opened and kept for a day for the so-called “blooming”. After that, the cotton is loaded onto special machines, where it is loosened and cleaned of unnecessary impurities and seeds. The cotton then goes through a final cleaning process.

The resulting cotton fibers are twisted and pressed. The seeds are not thrown away: some of them will be sown again, some will be used for oil, and the remaining cake will become feed for livestock.

Production of cotton fabric

Cotton fibers are spun into threads. They are glued with solutions based on resins, fats and starch in order to successfully withstand mechanical stress during further processing.

Next comes bleaching. Previously, the sun's rays served as bleach, but now more modern technologies are used - solutions that contain substances based on chlorine or hydrogen peroxide.

At the next stage, the previously used glue is washed off.

Sometimes the fabric is made from already dyed threads. In other cases, bleached fabric, which during processing becomes completely hydrophilic (absorbs water with appetite), is dyed with special synthetic substances, of which there are thousands in the industry.

During the production process, cotton can also be subjected to so-called finishing, which is worth talking about in more detail.

Finishing is a series of operations that give the fabric the necessary consumer properties. There are mechanical varieties like shaving and napping, but most are done using chemicals.

Blueing, for example, enhances the effect of whiteness. The name of the anti-crease finish, which uses formaldehyde resins, speaks for itself. And, of course, mercerization - soaking fibers, threads or finished fabric in caustic sodium at zero temperature. This operation gives cotton silkiness, strength and the ability to retain its shape.

Cotton or cotton fabric, the fabric is durable, attractive in appearance and durable. Products made from it are pleasant to the touch, wash well and have excellent hygroscopic properties (cotton can absorb up to 15-20% of its own weight without feeling wet). Cotton is the most popular material in the textile industry, and that probably says it all.

There is a great variety of cotton fabrics, because cotton is the most common material in the textile industry. Products made from cotton fabrics are mostly pleasant to the touch, high quality, strong, durable and inexpensive. Cotton perfectly absorbs moisture while remaining dry to the touch. It washes well. In general, the list of its advantages is extensive.

Almost all types of weaving are used in the production of cotton fabrics, but the most popular of them is still the simplest, linen.

Cotton fabrics can be divided according to the nature of their finishing. Here are some of the types:

  • Severe. These are fabrics without any finishing or dyeing at all.
  • Bleached - those that have undergone a bleaching stage at the factory using special substances.
  • Plain painted. These are fabrics that are uniformly dyed in one color.
  • Melange. They are made from yarn made from fibers dyed in different colors.
  • Mulinated. Fabrics woven from two-color or multi-color twisted yarn.
  • Printed. Fabrics with a printed design or pattern.
  • Multi-colored fabrics also have a pattern, but it is formed during the weaving process by alternating multi-colored warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) threads.
  • Mercerized. Treated fabrics that have undergone special chemical treatment. They become more pleasant to the touch and more durable.

Cotton fabrics can also be divided into household and technical. Clothes and home textiles are made from household waste. Technical ones are used in the manufacture of equipment, in the chemical, furniture industries and in many other industries.

Types of cotton fabrics

It's easy to get lost in the kingdom of cotton. We present to your attention a table that will allow you to navigate this great variety of cotton fabrics a little better.

Textile

Appearance

Fabric properties

What do they make from it?

Bike

Dense, soft, affordable fabric that can withstand the cold. Has thick pile

Pajamas, shirts, home clothes

Velvet

Soft, luxurious fabric.

Thick pile on the front side

Pantsuits, dresses, curtains

Warm, dense, durable, wear-resistant fabric of the simplest plain weave. Looks the same on both sides

Waffle fabric

Unusual appearance. Rigid fabric with excellent absorbent properties

Towels

Velveteen

Dense fabric with longitudinal ribs on the front side

Coats, skirts, suits, trousers

Guipure

Various weaves of twisted threads, reminiscent of lace, form convex patterns on the fabric

Evening dresses, underwear, blouses

Denim fabric

Durable, rough, dense fabric

The most varied clothes

Kiseya

Thin, airy, transparent plain weave fabric. Weft threads entwined with a pair of warp threads remain straight and lie separately

Children's clothing, women's dresses

Eraser

Thin, light, shiny satin weave fabric, similar to satin

Shirts, dresses, linings

Gauze

Transparent, thin mesh fabric with very low density

Used in medicine, printing, sewing

Terry fabric

A fabric with a loop weave and a pile that is formed by pulling the warp threads.

Robes, towels, sheets

Moleskin

Thick satin weave fabric. Has a smooth surface. Durable, wear-resistant

Work clothes, raincoats, suits

Raincoat fabric

Water-repellent treated plain weave fabric. Durable, dense

Jackets, raincoats, overalls

Plush

Fuzzy fabric, lightweight and durable

Soft toys. Also used in decoration and upholstery

Plain weave fabric with cross rib, durable and practical

And other products. But not everyone knows what cotton looks like, what cotton is made of, how it is grown, where cotton grows, how it is harvested, how cotton is used and what is made from cotton. Let's try to answer all these questions.

Today, cotton is the most important plant fiber used in the textile industry around the world (50-60% of the total).

Cotton is the fiber that covers the seeds of the cotton plant. Cotton fibers consist of 95% cellulose, as well as 5% fats and minerals. More than 50 varieties of cotton are known to the world, but only 4 of them are grown and cultivated:

  • Gossypium hirsutum - annual herbaceous cotton, the northernmost, produces short and coarse fiber;
  • Gossypium arboreum - Indochinese tree cotton, the tallest up to 4-6 m;
  • Gossypium barbadense - elite long-staple cotton from the islands, Barbadian or Peruvian;
  • Gossypium herbaceum - common cotton plant, the most common.
Cotton is not picky, but requires a long period of warm temperature without frost. That is why it is successfully grown in tropical and subtropical zones of the northern and southern hemispheres.

The main suppliers of cotton for many years have been the USA, China, India, Pakistan, and Brazil, although it is grown in 80 countries.

How is cotton grown anyway?

Before the plant produces soft fiber, it goes through several stages:
  1. The formation of a bud from which a flower will eventually grow.
  2. Flower and its pollination. After pollination, the flower turns from yellow to purple-pink, which falls off after a few days, leaving the fruit (seed pod) in its place. The flower is self-pollinating, which does not tie the cotton production process to the presence of pollinating insects.
  3. The growth of the seed pod and the formation of cotton fibers from it. The fibers begin to grow only after pollination. The boll grows and bursts, releasing cotton fibers.


Cotton grows in a special way and has an indeterminate stage of ripening. This means that at the same time there is a bud, a flower, a pollinated flower, and a seed pod on one plant. Therefore, cotton picking requires constant monitoring:
  • the number of seed boxes is monitored;
  • after the bolls are opened by 80%, the cotton is processed to accelerate ripening;
  • collection begins after the boxes are 95% opened.
During the growth process, cotton plants are treated with a defoliant, which accelerates leaf shedding, making cotton easier to harvest.

Initially, cotton was collected and processed by hand, which made products made from it quite expensive, since one person can collect up to 80 kg of cotton per day, and separate it from seeds 6-8 kg. With industrialization and mechanization of processes, cotton has become the main natural fiber, allowing the production of inexpensive but high-quality products.


It is worth noting that in some countries (Africa, Uzbekistan) cotton is still collected by hand. But in modern production, raw cotton is collected using special cotton harvesting machines. There are several types of them, but they all have the same operating principle:

  • cotton bushes are captured by special spindles;
  • in special compartments the raw cotton and the stem are separated, the stem calmly comes out;
  • open boxes are captured and sent to the cotton bunker, and closed and half-opened ones are sent to the chicken heap bunker.
Next, the raw cotton goes to cleaning, where the fibers are separated from seeds, dry leaves and branches.

Types of cotton

Cleaned cotton is generally classified according to fiber length, stretch and degree of soiling.

According to the degree of stretching and contamination, cotton fibers are divided into 7 groups, where 0 is selected cotton. By fiber length:

  • short-fiber (up to 27 mm);
  • medium-fiber (30-35 mm);
  • long-fiber (35-50 mm).

What's good about cotton?

Everyone knows that textile products made from 100% cotton (for example, cotton towels, bed linen, bathrobes) create special comfort. How to explain this? Why is cotton so good?


Cotton has the following properties:

  • good hygroscopicity and breathability;
  • good tensile strength;
  • resistant to high temperatures (up to 150 C);
  • resistant to organic solvents (alcohol, acetic acid, formic acid);
  • softness;
  • good paintability;
  • relative cheapness.

What is cotton made from?

Cotton seeds are used for:
  • planting new cotton;
  • oil production;
  • production of livestock feed.
Down (lint) and down (delint) are used:
  • as a basis for the production of synthetic thread;
  • paper (cotton is 95% cellulose);
  • plastics;
  • explosives.
Cotton fibers are used to produce:
  • elite, thin fabrics - only long-staple cotton is used for them;
  • for cheaper fabrics such as calico, chintz, etc. - use medium-fiber cotton;
  • knitwear - short-staple cotton can also be used in production (this sometimes explains its lower durability), synthetic components are added for strength;
  • medical cotton wool;
  • batting;
  • cotton filling for pillows, blankets and mattresses - modern methods of careful processing of cotton fiber make it possible to obtain a material that holds its shape perfectly, does not caking and is environmentally friendly.

Cotton is one of the best organic materials throughout human history, used in various industries. The main consumer of fiber is the textile industry, which cannot be imagined without cotton. Fabrics made from this material have excellent characteristics.

Over time, cotton remains in demand, as it was many centuries ago.

Description

Cotton is a plant fiber that envelops the seeds of the cotton plant. It is one of the most important and widespread crops around the world. It occupies a leading position as a basis for the production of fabrics. There are dozens of species of this plant.

In terms of external characteristics, cotton grows like a bush. The similarity is due to the presence of branches and leaves. A good example is the following photo of a cotton plant.

In fact, cotton plant, depending on the species, is a woody or herbaceous plant. It takes root only in hot countries; it needs a warm and humid climate. Its height ranges from a meter to one and a half meters. their color also differs in varietal characteristics and can pollinate independently. The fruit is a cotton boll in which the seeds and fibers ripen.

Story

To learn how cotton grows, it's helpful to read a little history about it.

The cultivation of cotton has a long history. This is confirmed by excavations of ancient settlements. India is considered the country that began the development of cotton. It was there that the oldest samples of the material and tools for its processing were found. Further, cotton fiber became widespread in Greece and Arab countries. Excavations in China, Persia, Mexico, and Peru also speak about the cultivation of cotton several thousand years BC.

From the countries growing the crop, cotton products spread to Asia and America. Independent cultivation of cotton by these countries began much later.

Before cultivation began in Europe, there were many legends about how cotton grew. Several variants of names have survived to this day in different cultures, as well as images according to people’s ideas.

Growing cotton

The ripening period of cotton fiber varies depending on the variety: from 100 to 200 days.

To grow cotton fiber, well-prepared, porous soil is required. The presence of nutrients in it is of great importance for the full growth of the plant. Therefore, before sowing, the soil is enriched with the help of various fertilizers.

Warm climate conditions also play a huge role. Seeds can germinate at temperatures not lower than 15 degrees. For development and further flowering, the temperature must reach 30 degrees. Cotton plants need open access to sunlight. In the shade, the plant may die.

Cotton plants consume a lot of water. Providing the plant with moisture should be abundant and constant. At the same time, cotton is able to tolerate drought thanks to a well-developed root system. But under such conditions, the amount of harvest is reduced.

Cotton ripening on the plant occurs unevenly, so the harvest takes place in several stages. Often, before harvesting, leaves are removed from it, which can interfere with the harvesting process.

After the fiber box has matured, it opens. The cotton harvest begins, either mechanically or manually. The pods of ripened fiber along with the seeds are torn from the plant. Next, the raw materials are cleaned from seeds, dust and debris, and transported to their destination.

Properties

Cotton fiber has a number of positive properties:

  • perfectly absorbs moisture;
  • does not cause allergies;
  • warms, retains heat;
  • has high air permeability;
  • does not require complex care;
  • has low cost;
  • convenient for sewing various clothes.

Cotton also has several negative properties:

  • without adding, it wrinkles, stretches and thins;
  • quickly loses color with large amounts of sunlight;
  • loses properties upon prolonged contact with water.

Application

Cotton fiber is used in various spheres of human life.

Cotton is primarily used in the textile industry. It is used to produce fabrics of various characteristics and colors. For example, satin, flannel, chintz and many others. Cotton fiber is used in the manufacture of threads, yarn, cotton wool, paper and even explosives.

Cotton seeds are also used industrially. Some of them are being prepared for further disembarkation. The rest of the seeds are extracted into oil, which is used as food. Low quality oil is used for technical needs. The raw material remaining after squeezing the oil is rich in protein, which is why animal feed is made from it.

Of the dozens of varieties of cotton, several types are used for the manufacturing industry.

Information about how cotton grows and its industrial uses is interesting and important. This plant has played a big role in human history for many centuries.

Cotton has a very wide application in the modern world, not only in the textile industry. In this article I will tell you what cotton is made from, what properties it has and where it is used.

Cotton is a plant fiber that covers cotton seeds, the most important and cheapest plant fiber.

Cotton plant with seeds covered with cotton

Cotton fiber is a single plant cell that develops from the seed coat. Depending on the length of the fiber (from 5 to 60 mm), the yarn made from it is subjected to various processing and classified as:

  • short fiber,
  • medium fiber,
  • fine-fiber.

As the fiber matures, cellulose deposits grow, causing the fiber's strength to increase.

In terms of chemical composition, cotton is 95% cellulose, the remaining 5% is fatty and mineral impurities.

When ripe, the cotton boll opens. The fiber together with unseparated seeds - raw cotton - is collected at cotton receiving points, from where it is sent to a cotton gin plant, where the fibers are separated from the seeds. Then follows the division of fibers by length: cotton fiber itself - fibers more than 20 mm long, fluff (lint) - less than 20 mm, and down (delint) - less than 5 mm.

Cotton picking in the big mountains

Cotton is used for textile processing to produce cotton yarn. Cotton is used to make fabrics, knitwear, threads, cotton wool and more. Cotton fluff and lint are used in the chemical industry as raw materials for the production of artificial fibers and threads, films, varnishes, etc. It is used in explosives.

Properties of cotton

Cotton has many properties:

  • It has high hygroscopicity (the ability to absorb moisture). When the fiber swells, it increases by approximately 40% in volume. Unlike other fabrics, when cotton gets wet, its strength does not decrease, but increases (by about 15%).
  • The strength is comparable to silk (if we compare the breaking load of natural fibers), inferior in strength to flax, but superior to wool.
  • Sensitive to light - after 940 hours of exposure to sunlight, strength is halved.
  • Sensitive to prolonged exposure to high temperatures - after three days of heating to 150 °C, the strength is halved.
  • Thermoplastic - able to “remember” its shape after heating (in other words, it can be ironed), which allows you to add cotton to suiting fabrics made from synthetic fibers to improve properties.
  • The recommended temperature for wet-heat treatment is 130 °C.
  • Untreated fabrics wrinkle and wear easily.
  • Like other natural fibers, it does not dissolve in organic solvents (for example, formic acid, vinegar, alcohol), which allows you to use these readily available reagents to clean difficult stains on cotton fabrics at home.
  • Sensitive to the activity of microorganisms (in other words, it rots).

When burned, cotton emits a burnt paper smell, due to the fact that it consists of 95% cellulose.

Pros and cons of cotton

Advantages of fabrics made from cotton fiber: low cost of production, good hygienic properties (in terms of hygroscopicity and breathability), ability to shrink.

Disadvantages: susceptibility to pilling, abrasion, creasing (without special treatment), sensitivity to light (like most natural fabrics), large amount of irreversible deformation (stretching of the product) due to the small amount of elastic deformation.

The video shows the process of harvesting cotton with combines: