BURNING TEST

To recognize the composition of fabrics by the burning test ,the sample of fiber, yarn
of fabric should be moved slowly towards a small flame and the reaction to heat
carefully observed .One end of the sample should be put directly into flame to
determine its burning rate and characteristics. The burning odour should be noted
and the characteristics of the ash such as amount, form, hardness and color should
be examined.
IDENTIFICATION OF FIBRES THROUGH BURNING TEST
Cotton
When ignited it burns with a steady flame and smells like burning leaves. The
ash left is easily crumbled. Small samples of burning cotton can be blown out as you
would a candle.
Nylon
Nylon melts and then burns rapidly if the flame remains on the melted fibre. If
you can keep the flame on the melting nylon, it smells like burning plastic.
Polyester
Polyester melts and burns at the same time, the melting, burning ash can
bond quickly to any surface it drips on including skin. The smoke from polyester is
black with a sweetish smell. The extinguished ash is hard.
Rayon
It is a regenerated cellulose fibre which is almost pure cellulose. Rayon burns
rapidly and leaves only a slight ash. The burning smell is close to burning leaves.
Silk
It is a protein fibre and usually burns readily, not necessarily with a steady
flame, and smells like burning hair. The ash is easily crumbled. Silk samples are not
as easily extinguished as cotton or linen.
Wool
It is also a protein fibre but is harder to ignite than silk as the individual "hair"
fibres are shorter than silk and the weave of the fabrics is generally looser than with
silk. The flame is steady but more difficult to keep burning. The smell of burning wool
is like burning hair.

TECHNICAL TESTS
There are certain technical tests performed for identifying various fibers. These tests
require high technology laboratory equipment and are much more reliable than the
non technical fibre tests. Technical tests require high skilled personnel and technical
know how of handling chemicals and their accurate analysis. These tests are very
valuable for those fabrics that are a blend of different yarns and also have certain
special properties including flame retardance etc.

TYPES OF TECHNICAL TEST

• Microscopic test
• Chemical test
MICROSCOPIC TEST
Microscopic test is a technical test that involves identifying the fabric with
the help of a microscope with a magnification of minimum 100 powers. The test can
easily distinguish between fibers. The test identifies the natural fibers more easily as
compared to man made ones. Synthetic fibers are very similar in appearance and the
increase in the number of varieties makes it a little tough to distinguish the fibers
even under a microscope.

MICROSCOPIC TEST:
COTTON:
It is a single elongated cell. Under the microscope, it resembles a collapsed, spirally
twisted tube with a rough surface. The thin cell wall of the fiber has from 200 to 400
convolutions per inch.

WOOL:
Under the microscope , wool’s cross section shows three layers- epidermis, cortex
and the medulla.

SILK:
It appears somewhat elliptical and triangular in cross section when we see under the
microscope. It is composed of fibroin, consisting of two filaments, called brin which is
held together by sericin.

RAYONS:
Rayon fibers have a glasslike luster under the microscope and appear to have a
uniform diameter when viewed longitudinally.

NYLON:
The basic microscopic appearance is generally fine, round, smooth, and translucent.
It is also produced in multilobal cross-sectional types.
 Nylon

POLYESTERS:
Generally, polyester fibers are smooth and straight and the cross-section is round.
This general characteristics may be altered to achieve certain characteristics.

CHEMICAL TESTS
Chemical tests are another technical means of identifying fibers. But chemical tests
are not intended for the general consumers. Different types of chemical tests are
undertaken to establish the identity of the fibers used. These tests give accurate and
precise analysis. The tests are conducted in research laboratories.
TYPES OF CHEMICAL TEST
Solvent Test:
The test involves treating the fibres in certain solvents for identifying them. The
technical test is becoming difficult to conduct as most of the manufactured fibres and
their blends are chemically similar. There is no individual chemical or solvent test for
separating or identifying the fibres in combinations.
Distinguishing animal from vegetablefibres with an acid
As strong alkali destroy animal substances, a 5% of soda lye solution in water can be
used to eliminate wool and silk fibers from a sample that contains a mixture of fiber.
The vegetable fibres will not be affected by this solution.
Distinguishing vegetable from animal fibres with an acid
As dilute acid destroy vegetable fibers, a 2% sulphuric acid solution can be used. A
drop of solution is placed on the sample, which is then pressed with a hot iron. The
spotted area will become charred if the sample is cotton linen or rayon.
DISTINGUISHING SILK FROM WOOL:
The use of concentrated cold hydrochloric acid will dissolve the silk and the wool fiber
swells.
DISTINGUISHING NYLON FROM OTHER FIBRES:
If the fabric is thought to contain nylon, the fabric may be immersed in a boiling
solution of sodium hydroxide. The nylon is insoluble in such a solution.
DISTINGUISHING POLYESTERS FROM OTHER FIBRES:
Polyester is soluble in hot meta cresol; however, unlike acetate it is not soluble in
acetone, and unlike nylon it is not soluble in concentrated formic acid.
DISTINGUISHING GLASS FIBERS FROM OTHER FIBRES:
There are two specific solvents for quick identification of glass fibers, they are
hydrofluoric acid and hot phosphoric acid.