Anatomy of a Nep

Abstract

Neps appearing in all stages of textile processing up to the dyed fabric were extracted from cotton samples. These neps were disassembled and the individual fibers making up each nep, along with any foreign material appearing in the nep, were studied using microscopic techniques. Three distinct types of neps could be recognized. The data obtained from each tend to support the theory that for the most part, problematic neps are a result of immature fibers present in the cotton.