COTTON

Techinical Propertires

COTTON IS THE SOFT FIBER THAT GROWSAROUNDTHESEEDSOFTHE PLANT. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AFTER COTTON IS PLANTED, A FLOWER WILL GROW AND FALL OFF, LEAVING A COTTON POD. IT HAS A MATTELUSTER,ASOFTDRAPE,ANDA SMOOTH, SOFT TOUCH, THEREFORE IT IS COMFORTABLE FOR EVERYDAY WEAR.ITHASANATURALTWISTAND MICROSCOPICALLY LOOKS LIKE A TWISTED RIBBON. COTTON IS STRONGANDABSORBSMOISTURE.IT CAN BE MACHINE WASHED AND DRIED BUT MAY SHRINK IF NOT PRETREATED. IT CAN BE DYED AND RETAINS ITS COLOR LONGER IF WASHEDINWARMORCOOLWATER. HOWEVER, COTTON IS DAMAGED BY ACIDS AND CAN TURN YELLOW BECAUSE OF OXIDATION FROM THE SUN.

Functions

THEMOSTCOMMONLYUSEDFIBERISCOTTONAND ISUSEDINSEVERALKNITANDWOVENFABRICS.

Environmental Effects

THE DEMAND FOR COTTON HAS LED TO THE EXPLOITATION OF POOR COTTON FARMERS, POLLUTION,ANDINCREASEDUSEOFPESTICIDESAND INSECTICIDES.COTTONALSOUSESALOTOFWATER, “IT TAKES 6600 GALLONS OF WATER TO PRODUCE ONETONOFFIBER.”(HALLETT154)