Cotton

Child's smock
MFA: #99.664.65

Description

A strong, natural vegetable fiber obtained from the exterior of the seeds of various species of Gossypium native to India, the Sudan, and Ethiopia. Cotton is a major textile fiber and an important source of Cellulose. It contains 88-96% pure Alpha cellulose; the remainder is Protein, Pectin, Sugar, Oil, and Wax. Cotton cloth was made as early as 5000 BCE in India. By 3000 BCE, cotton fabrics were being woven in Egypt, China, and Peru. Cultivation of cotton became wide spread in Europe in the Middle Ages. Today, most cotton is grown in the United States, China, India, Pakistan, Brazil, and Turkey. Microscopically, cotton fibers look like flattened twisted tubes. They have good luster and dye well with basic, direct, vat, and reactive dyes producing lightfast and washfast colors. Cotton is used for making fabrics, cordage, padding, plastics, and rag paper.

Synonyms and Related Terms

white gold; qutun; kutun; coton (Fr.); bomuld (Dan.); Baumwollpflanze (Deut.); Baumwolle (Deut.); algodón (Esp.); cotone (It.); katoen (tje), katoenweefsel,katoenen stof; watje; katoenplant (genus Gossypium) katoengewas;katoen (draad/garen/stof/vezel); pluis (Ned); bomull (Nor., Sven.); algodão (Port.);

SEM

Physical and Chemical Properties

Resistant to alkalis and most organic solvents. Degraded by strong acids and cuprammonium hydroxide.

Fiber length = 1.6 - 6 cm. Moisture regain 7.0-8.5 % Elongation = 5-10% Melting point = 148 (dec) Density = 1.54-1.56

Cotton burns with a steady flame and smells like burning leaves. The flame can be easily extinguished by blowing and the ash is easily crumbled.

Paper fiber type: non-woody/seed. Using transmitted light microscopy, fibers appear as twisted tubes. Cut ends or blunt fiber ends are common in cotton rag pulp for papermaking. Cotton Linters tend to have more tapered ends. Immature fibers do not have a pronounced twist. Appearance with Graff "C" stain: pinkish red due to high Alpha cellulose. Average dimensions: (Rag) length 18mm, width 20μm; (linter) Length 2-7mm long width 20μm. Common pulping method: Soda.

Personal Risks

Toxic by inhalation of dust.

Comparisons

Properties of Natural Fibers

Additional Images

Cotton boll
Cotton
Cotton seed hair
Cotton fibers
Worsted cotton
Naturally dyed cotton
Cotton
Cotton fibers
Cotton fibers
Comparison of wool, cotton and silk fibers
Cotton linter fibers stained with Graff "C" stain
Cotton rag fibers stained with Graff "C" stain

Collection Risks

Discolors and eventually degrades in sunlight. Combustible. Susceptible to mildew, bacteria and silverfish. Resistant to moths and beetles.

Links to Oddy Test results posted on AIC Wiki Materials Database Pages for individual materials below

° Testfabrics, Inc. Army Carded Cotton Sateen tested in 2013	° Fabricut Avanti Cocoa tested in 2005
° John Ranger Textiles Fawn tested in 2016	° Testfabrics Cotton tested in 2016
° Whaleys Bradford Cotton Domette Natural tested in 2012	° Whaleys Bradford Cotton Jersey CD26 Cream tested in 2012
° Whaleys Bradford Cotton Jersey CM15956 tested in 2012	° Khoon Heng HJ3300 Burgundy tested in 2017
° Khoon Heng Cotton P33 Navy Blue tested in 2017	° Creation Baumann-Roselle RM ultra 43 Navy Blue tested in 2017
° Creation Baumann-Roselle RM unisono 81 Beige tested in 2017	° Khoon Heng T 3340 Purple tested in 2017
° Khoon Heng T 3712 Grey tested in 2017	° Khoon Heng T 3888 Blue tested in 2017
° Khoon Heng TC 36 Black tested in 2017	° Khoon Heng TR 268 Grey tested in 2017
° Iris Studio Dark Brown Cotton Velvet tested in 2010	° Iris Studio Dark Cobalt Heavy Cotton Satin tested in 2012
° Iris Studio Dark Gray F9T 1A tested in 2012	° Iris Studio Dark Indigo Heavy Cotton Satin tested in 2011
° John Lewis Domette Interlining tested in 2012	° Calvin Fabrics Eco Linen 263 tested in 2014
° Iris Studio Ecru Gray 1544.125 tested in 2012	° Iris Studio Gray Ecru 1543 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Indiana 96 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Indiana II 96 tested in 2010
° Creation Baumann Indiana II 96 tested in 2010	° Creation Baumann Indiana II 96 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Indiana II 96 tested in 2012	° Material World Japara, natural tested in 2012
° JB Martin 8500 Juliet 5791 charcoal tested in 2006	° JB Martin 8550 Juliet 1000 Black tested in 2007
° JB Martin JB Martin 8550 Juliet 5786 chicory tested in 2007	° Malabar Kamla Arabica #215 tested in 2013
° Malabar Kamla Tamarind #41 tested in 2013	° Malabar Kamla Mocha #216 tested in 2013
° Malabar Kamla Ash #211 tested in 2013	° Malabar Kamla Taupe #209 tested in 2013
° Malabar Kamla Garnet #07 tested in 2013	° Malabar Kamla Indigo #252 tested in 2014
° Malabar Kamla Larch #246 tested in 2014	° Malabar Kamla Pecan #213 tested in 2014
° Malabar Kamla Pewter #35 tested in 2013	° Malabar Kamla Rajah #12 tested in 2013
° Kilarney Sky Blue Fabric tested in 2003	° Iris Studio Lighter Dark Gray tested in 2013
° John Ranger Linen Blard tested in 2016	° Testfabrics Muslin tested in 2016
° Iris Studios Peru Cotton Satin Dark Green tested in 2012	° Iris Studios Peru Cotton Satin Light Green tested in 2012
° Iris Studios Peru Cotton Cinnabar tested in 2012	° AKA Castel Pampelonne LC164/746 tested in 2017
° Prelle Cotton 13012 BT307451 Bleu19 tested in 2009	° Prelle Prelle Cotton 5212 Bleu 199/Ff30745 tested in 2009
° Iris Studio Raisin Brown Cotton Velvet tested in 2012	° Fabricut Rembrandt Chocolate tested in 2005
° Dominique Kieffer by Rubelli coton de vie, 17221-08 in anthracite tested in 2017	° Iris Studio Slate Blue Gray 1622 tested in 2010
° Philips Boyne SUP0000ALM tested in 2017	° Iris Studio Tan tested in 2004
° Testfabrics Cotton Sateen 479-58" tested in 2013	° Testfabrics Cotton Sateen 479-58" tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 124 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra 417 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 423 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra 435 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 450 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 122 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 404 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 405 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 407 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 421 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 102 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra 108 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Ultra 109 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Ultra 116 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 121 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Ultra 122 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 122 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 123 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 216 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra 225 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 236 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 237 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 336 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 402 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 403 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Ultra 406 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 407 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 413 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 414 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 415 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 416 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Ultra 417 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 418 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 419 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Ultra 420 tested in 2010	° Creation Baumann Ultra 426 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra 430 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra 431 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 436 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 438 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 440 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra 441 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 446 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra 447 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra 448 tested in 2010	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 116 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 116 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 121 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 116 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 121 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 124 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 336 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 401 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 404 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 404 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 406 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 415 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 416 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 416 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 431 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 436 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 439 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Ultra IV 440 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Ultra V 405 (Beige) tested in 2017
° Creation Baumann Ultra V 406 tested in 2017	° Testfabrics Unbleached Cotton Flannel tested in 2013
° Testfabrics Unbleached Cotton Flannel tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 0233 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Unisono 14 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Unisono 9169 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Unisono 0233 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 14 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Unisono 13 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono 207 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 211 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono 213 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono 140 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono 220 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono 232 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 234 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Unisono 27 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 29 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Unisono 301 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 302 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Unisono 304 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 305 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Unisono 206 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Unisono 310 tested in 2014
° Creation Baumann Unisono 311 tested in 2014	° Creation Baumann Unisono 312 tested in 2014
° Creation Baumann Unisono 313 tested in 2014	° Creation Baumann Unisono 314 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 315 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Unisono 316 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Unisono 318 tested in 2014	° Creation Baumann Unisono 319 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 320 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 321 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 324 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 235 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 329 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 330 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 337 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 343 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 344 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 347 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 348 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 349 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 350 tested in 2011	° Creation Baumann Unisono 315 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 352 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Unisono 51 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono 60 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono 80 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Unisono 81 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 81 tested in 2008
° Creation Baumann Unisono 87 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 88 tested in 2010
° Creation Baumann Unisono 9 tested in 2013	° Creation Baumann Unisono 91 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Unisono 96 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Unisono 9200 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 115 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono II 115 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 14 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono II 15 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 15 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono II 1661 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 1661 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono II 87 tested in 2008
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 233 tested in 2008	° Creation Baumann Unisono II 90 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 90 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono II 91 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 91 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono II 92 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Unisono II 92 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Unisono III 0010 (green) tested in 2016
° Creation Baumann Unisono III 0234 tested in 2018	° Creation Baumann Unisono III 374 tested in 2018
° Creation Baumann Unisono III 0324 (blue) tested in 2016	° Creation Baumann Unisono III-150 91 tested in 2013
° Creation Baumann Unisono IV 0350 tested in 2018	° Creation Baumann Unisono IV-150, 304 tested in 2018
° Creation Baumann Unisono regular 90 tested in 2008	° Creation Baumann Unisono regular 91 tested in 2008
° Creation Baumann Velling 362 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 368 tested in 2008
° Creation Baumann Velling 379 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 397 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 399 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 395 tested in 2018
° Creation Baumann Velling 396 tested in 2018	° Creation Baumann Velling 402 tested in 2018
° Creation Baumann Velling 399 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Velling 364 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 364 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 365 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 365 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 366 tested in 2008
° Creation Baumann Velling 368 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Velling 368 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 369 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 370 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 381 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 381 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 382 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 393 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 394 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 395 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 395 tested in 2008	° Creation Baumann Velling 396 tested in 2009
° Creation Baumann Velling 397 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Velling 398 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velling 399 tested in 2009	° Creation Baumann Velling 399 tested in 2011
° Creation Baumann Velling 401 tested in 2012	° Creation Baumann Velling 402 tested in 2012
° Creation Baumann Velos 15 tested in 2008	° Creation Baumann Velos 2 tested in 2008
° Artmark Verona Bark tested in 2005	° Baumann Dekor 0202-1233-1 off-white tested in 2017
° Creation Baumann 314 Unisono IV-150 tested in 2018	° Baumann Dekor 8941-3593-1 white tested in 2017
° Philips-Boyne Corona Black tested in 2005	° Philips-Boyne Corona Navy tested in 2005
° Teoh Huat Textile Cotton Jersey tested in 2017	° Pierre Frey F3168016 LOFT tested in 2017
° Sahco/Donghia Imperial 2750-19 tested in 2017	° Dominique Kieffer Satin de Coton 17161-03 perle tested in 2017
° Creation Baumann Unisono 50 tested in 2009

Resources and Citations

Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Cotton." (9 Mar. 2004)
Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990
The Dictionary of Paper, American Paper Institute, New York, Fourth Edition, 1980
J.Gordon Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:I Natural Fibres, Merrow Publishing Co. , Durham, England, 1984
The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: 'Cotton'
Marja-Sisko Ilvessalo-Pfäffli. Fiber Atlas: Identification of Papermaking Fibers (Springer Series in Wood Science). Springer, 1995.
Reed Kay, The Painter's Guide To Studio Methods and Materials, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1983
Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
Rosalie Rosso King, Textile Identification, Conservation, and Preservation, Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1985
Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982
Marjory L. Joseph, Introductory Textile Science, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Fort Worth, TX, 1986
A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 4th edition, 1962
G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 245
Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
Walter Rantanen. 'Fiber ID Course.' Integrated Paper Services. June 2013. Lecture.
The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996 Comment: comment