Comparison of several image analysis methods for fiber dispersion uniformity in water

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate fiber dispersion in water, a comparative study of different image analysis methods has been carried out. Furthermore, a vision system has been established to observe and capture the distribution of polyester fiber dispersed in water. This paper focuses on the difference of image analysis methods and investigates the effect of dispersant and stirring parameters. Besides, our results indicate that the effect of dispersant concentration, fiber length, and the stirring rate on uniform distribution can be revealed by employing the quadrat analysis method. In addition, the influence of stirring parameters on dispersion quality can be well represented by the histogram analysis method, such as the stirring rate and dispersion time.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Dispersion
• fiber
• image analysis
• nonwoven
• wet-laid