Cotton

Wool

Linen

Nylon

Silk

Rayon

Natural FibersFibers have varying thickness

CottonMost commonly used plant (vegetable) fiber, appears like flattened, twisted ribon under
microscope
Cotton cloths include cheesechloth, organdy, chintz, gingham, crinoline, muslin, percale, calico,
velveteen, seersucker, poplin, sail cloth, and canvas
Cotton thread is treated with a solution of cold sodium hydroxide (lye, NaOH) to make it
smooth and lustrious (mercerized)
Burns, doesnt melt, smells like burning paper, leaves charred/gray white ash

LinenCommon plant (vegetable) fiber, comes from flax plant

Fiber is long, smooth, appears like bamboo under microscope, ends are pointed
Used for handkerchiefs, tablecloths, napkins, summer clothing, blouses
Burns at constant rate, no smoke, smells like burning grass or paper, produces sparks

WoolDissolves in bleach
Most commonly used animal fiber, obtained from sheep and goats
Curly and springy
Used for cashmere, camels hair, alpaca, covert cloth, flannel, gabardine, mohair, serge, tweed,
and worsted
Animal hair, cylinder with surface scales (cuticle-know your hair structures)
Stops burning (self-extinguishes) if removed from fire, smells like burning hair, leaves black
hollow bead that can be crushed to powder, doesnt melt

SilkDissolves in bleach
Animal fiber, composed of fibroin, from mulberry silk worms cocoon
Appears like thin, long, smooth cylinder
Used for brocade, brocatelle, chiffon, crepe, velvet, crepe de Chine, foulard, lame, moire, satin,
taffeta, tulle, and falle
Burns similar to wool, self-extinguishes if removed from fire, smells like burning hair but less
strong than wool (doesnt contain sulfur), leaves black hollow bead that can be crushed to
powder, doesnt melt

Synthetic FibersFibers have uniform thickness

RayonOne of first successful artificial fibers
Made from cellulose, resembles silk when manufactured
Very similar to natural fibers
Appears smooth, lustrous cylinder under microscope
Burns very similar to cotton, does not melt, smells like burning paper, leaves gray ash residue
Note: Although rayon is included in most of the Science Olympiad study materials, it is actually
not on the event sheet, so if during the test you are torn between rayon and something else,
choose the other one, because this should technically not be on the test.

PolyesterVery long and durable

Hydrophobic, quick drying
Shrinks from heat, melts, can drip, will burn if left in flame, smells chemical and maybe sweet,
leaves hard bead that cannot be crushed

Nylonaka Aliphatic polyamide

Long fibers
High durability, resilience, resistance to abrasions
Transparent to infrared light
Shrinks from heat (more quickly than polyester), melts, will burn if left in flame, smells like
burning plastic and maybe celery, leaves hard bead that cannot be crushed

SpandexSuper stretchy (500-800% expansion without breaking)

Polyester-polyurethane copolymer
Fuses and shrinks away from flame, sharp bitter smell, burns in flame, leaves soft sticky gummy
residue