Color Measurement of Flax Retted by Various Means

Abstract

Color measurements are made of various kinds of flax retted by dew, water, or enzymes. Two sets of samples are analyzed under different conditions using different spectropho tometers and by reflectance in the visible and near infrared spectral regions. Sample set one consists of 55 samples of various flax types retted by traditional dew and water methods and various experimental enzyme retted samples. Means and standard deviations of CIELAB color values for each of the classes are displayed as spheroid plots. The enzyme retted fiber flax class forms a separate group that is substantially lighter and slightly yellower than dew retted flax. Water retted flax is intermediate between dew and enzyme retted flax, but tends to be closer to dew retted flax. Near infrared spectra vary with different cleaning methods to remove shives from fibers. A second set of 16 samples consists of dew, water, and spray enzyme retted samples, the latter samples also analyzed with regard to subsequent cleaning processes. CIELAB and Hunter Lab methods provide similar comparisons, although CIELAB values are higher within treatments. Enzyme retted fibers tend (P > 0.05) to be lighter and yellower than water retted ones. None of the flax fibers are as light as the cotton samples included for comparison. The ΔE _CIELAB values are 8.8 between dew and water retted fibers, 13.6 between dew and enzyme retted fibers, and 4.9 between water and enzyme retted fibers. Factors that affect the color of enzymatically retted flax fibers are prior microbial activity, shive content, and fiber fineness. These color methods could form the basis for developing a color standard for short staple flax fibers.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Akin, D.E. , Dodd, R.B. , Perkins, W. , Henriksson, G. , and Eriksson, K.-E.L. , Spray Enzymatic Retting: A New Method for Producing Flax Fibers, Textile Res. J. 70, 486-494 (2000).

Akin, D.E. , Gamble, G.R. , Morrison, W. H. Iii , Rigsby, L.L. , and Dodd, R.B. , Chemical and Structural Analysis of Fibre and Core Tissues from Flax , J. Sci. Food Agric. 72, 155-165 ( 1996).

Akin, D.E. , Hardin, I.R. , Rigsby, L.L. , and Epps, H.H. , Properties of Enzymatically Retted Flax for Linen Fiber, in " Book of Papers, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists ," Research Triangle Park, NC, 1999 , pp. 486-492.

Billmeyer, F.W. Jr., and Saltzman, M. , "Principles of Color Technology," John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1981.

Collier, B.J. , and Epps, H.H. , "Textile Testing and Analysis," Prentice-Hall, Inc. , Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1999.

Domier, K.W. , The Current Status of the Field Crop, Euroflax News. 2, 8-10 (1997).

Henriksson, G. , Akin, D.E. , Rigsby , L.L. , Patel, N. , and Eriksson, K.-E.L. , Influence of Chelating Agents and Mechanical Pretreatment on Enzymatic Retting of Flax , Textile Res. J. 67, 829-836 (1997).

Henriksson, G. , Eriksson, K.-E.L. , Kimmel, L. , and Akin, D.E. , Chemical/Physical Retting of Flax Using Detergent and Oxalic Acid at High pH, Textile Res. J. 68, 942-947 ( 1998).

Hering, E. , "Outlines of a Theory of the Light Sense," translated by L. M. Hurvich and D. Jameson, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1964.

10.

Hunter, R.S. , "The Measurement of Appearance," John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1975.

11.

MacAdam, D.L. , "Sources of Color Science ," M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, MA, 1970 .

12.

Murray, I. , and Williams, P.C. , Chemical Principals of Near-Infrared Technology, in " Near-Infrared Technology in the Agricultural and Food Industries," P. Williams and K. Norris , Eds., American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc., St. Paul, MN, 1987, pp. 17-34.

13.

Sharma, H. S. S. , and Van Sumere, C. F. , Eds., "The Biology and Processing of Flax," M Publications, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1992.

14.

United States Department of Agriculture , The Classification of Cotton, Agricultural Handbook 566, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Washington, D.C. , 1995.

15.

U.S. Flax Initiative , Report of the Second Conference, Presque Isle, ME, August 24-26, 1997.

16.

van Langenhove, L. , and Bruggeman, J.P. , Methods of Fibre Analysis, in " The Biology and Processing of Flax," H. S. S. Sharma and C. F. Van Sumere , Eds., M Publications, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1992, pp. 311-327.

17.

Van Sumere, C.F. , Retting of Flax with Special Reference to Enzyme-Retting , in "The Biology and Processing of Flax ," H. S. S. Sharma and C. F. Van Sumere , Eds., M Publications , Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1992 , pp. 157-198.