Silvio PorcoChris Dunn

Jack Edwards

Photos by Fabrics.net

An early form of cotton evolved separately on almost every continent.

The cotton we use today was the product of two of these different species meeting.

It is unclear exactly how two different forms of cotton plants reached each other from different continents.

The Origins of Cotton

Cotton is almost pure Cellulose.› 95% Cellulose› 1.3% Protein› 1.2% Ash› 0.6% Wax› 0.3% Sugar› 0.8% Various Organic Acids

Chemical Composition

Glucose is the basic monomer of cellulose.› Carbohydrate Sugar› C6H12O6

Monomers are individual parts of a molecule.› A single strand of cotton could have 10.000

glucose monomers per molecule.

Chemical Composition

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Five main factors of cotton’s structure:› Length› Distinctive Parts› Convolutions› Fineness› Color

COTTON’S STRUCTURE

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Length is the main factor to determine cotton quality.

The longer the cotton fiber, the stronger the cotton.

Cotton length is calculated by finding the average length of the fibers within a sample.

Length

Cotton has 4 distinctive parts:› The cuticle› Primary Wall› Secondary Wall› Lumen

Cuticle is the outermost layer while the lumen is the core of a cotton fiber.

Distinctive Parts

Convolutions are ribbon-like twists and patterns within a cotton fiber.

Help to characterize cotton into more specific categories.

Has less of an impact on the quality of cotton.

CONVOLUTIONS

Fineness in cotton’s shape varies with maturity.

Cotton Boll- The rounded seed capsule of plants, such as cotton.› Can contain immature fibers that create

problems when processing cotton. Micronaire- A measurement of cotton’s

fineness and maturity.

Fineness

The color of cotton can have an impact on specific properties it will demonstrate.› Creamy white cotton is most commonly

produced for printing and dyeing.

Cotton color can change as it ages or by being moistened right before harvest.

Color

Shreds and references of cotton have been discovered to be at least 7000 years old.› Discoveries were made in parts the current

countries of India as well Mexico.

Archaeologists and Scientists have concluded that cotton was independently domesticated in both the Old and New Worlds.

Early Humans

Main cotton cultivation began in the Indus Valley in modern day India.› From this point, it spread to parts of Africa

and Asia. Native Americans in North America soon

began cultivating cotton as well. Cotton became widespread in Europe by

800 A.D, mainly due to Arabic Merchants. By 1500, cotton was known all over the

world.

The Spread of Cotton

Massive impact on culture throughout the years.

Industrial Revolution in Britain.

Southern slave based economy.

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Cotton Culture

Made Britain the world’s first real cotton superpower.

Had the world’s first cotton factory.

Powered their factories by hydroelectricity.

Wye river (Image from http://www.rspb.org.uk)

Industrial Revolution (Britain)

Liverpool was a key port.

Used a massive work force to occupy the factories.

Imported raw cotton and transformed it into usable materials.

Industrial Revolution (Britain)

Cotton was the main crop harvested in the south.

Cotton seeds were very tough and time consuming to pick out.

Eli Whitney created the cotton gin which revolutionized the cotton industry.

Cotton Agriculture

The invention of the cotton gin made the harvesting of cotton much simpler.

Jump started the economy in the south.

THE COTTON GIN

Ever since the human discovery of cotton, it has played a large role in our economy.

Cotton currently controls the linen industry.

Countless products today are made with cotton.

Economics of Cotton

The industrial revolution crated thousands of jobs opportunities for Americans.

Abundance of cotton led to advanced textile factories in the north.› These factories needed many workers.

COTTON IN THE U.S.

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Slavery is the most prominent issue that cotton was involved with.

The Civil War was mainly caused by slavery due to the need for cotton workers.

Cotton Conflict

Cotton farming did not require slaves.

Southern plantation owners saw slavery as the most efficient method to farm cotton.

The south wished to expand slavery west while the north sharply disagreed.

This tension eventually rose enough to spark the Civil War.

Slavery

Cotton is also related to the underage working issues in the late 1800’s.

Textile mills in Great Britain and the U.S. began hiring young children as workers in the factories.

Cotton production had grow enough to require a larger industry.

Additional Conflict

The conditions for young textile workers were terrible.› Longer Hours› Less Pay› Poor Lighting› No Heat or Air Conditioning› Children were frequently replaced if

they acted out in any way.

Cotton Factory Conditions

There were frequent labor strikes for women and children.› Almost all of them were stopped rapidly.

Members of the strikes would be quickly dismissed and replaced.

Eventually the rights for women and children began to increase, along with working conditions and pay.

Labor Strikes

Cotton has never been more widely used than it is today.

It is used for a plethora of products, mainly clothing.

It has many other uses as well.

Modern Cotton

Other Cotton Uses:› Medical Products

Gauze Wraps

› Cleaning Products Wipes

› Toilet paper, etc.

Modern Cotton

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It is almost impossible to go an entire day without using cotton in some way or another.

We have integrated cotton very seamlessly into our everyday life.

Modern Cotton

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