FIBER IDENTIFICATION TEST LAB
Objective 4.01
Objective 4.01
FIBER IDENTIFICATION BURNING TESTS
Did You Know...
...you can differentiate fabrics based on how they burn?
Introduction: The burning test provides valuable information
regarding care of fabrics and aids in identifying classes of fibers
such as manufactured versus natural fibers and cellulose versus
protein fibers. It is important to remember that a number of
factors may alter the results of burning tests. The type of dyes,
finishes, and combination of fibers used in the fabrics can change
the flammability, odor, and the residue. In blends, the fiber of
greater percentage will become more evident.
Procedures:Using the internet, research to find answers the
following reactions for a burn test to the fabrics listed on the
chart:
a.The flame--Did it burn readily? Did it leave a glowing ember
when the flame was extinguished? Did it self-extinguish with no
ember? Did it melt, drip, and leave no ember when the flame was
extinguished? Did it melt and not burn?
b.The odor--Odor can sometimes be unreliable since chemicals and
inks added can alter the odor of the fiber itself. Odor
identification is primarily useful with natural cellulose and
protein-based fibers. Cellulosic fibers will smell like paper
burning and protein fibers normally smell like hair burning.
c.The residue--The residue is usually very distinctive.
Cellulosic fibers leave almost no residue except for a very soft
white ash which leaves a smudge when rubbed with the fingers.
Protein fibers curl away from the flame and bead up. The residue is
light and forms a very brittle cinder which is easily crushed.
Manufactured fibers draw away from the flame and melt into beads
that drip into molten globs. These beads solidify into a hard mass
when cooled and are difficult to crush. Edges of the fabric usually
fuse together into a hard beaded edge.
*Suggested web search: fiber id burn tests2. Record the
reactions of each fiber tested for flammability, odor, and type of
residue remaining AND answer each of the questions based on your
observations and conclusions.
NAME___________________________________DATE____________________________PERIOD____________
FIBERFLAMEODORRESIDUE
COTTON
LINEN
WOOL
SILK
RAYON
ACETATE
ACRYLIC
NYLON
POLYESTER
SPANDEX
1. Which fiber(s) reacted to the flame by burning readily and
leaving a glowing ember when the flame was extinguished?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which fiber(s) reacted to the flame by self-extinguishing
with no ember?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which fiber(s) reacted by melting, dripping, and forming a
hard mass?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Which fiber(s) produced a smell similar to burning paper or
wood?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Which fiber(s) produced a smell resembling burning hair?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. Which fiber(s) reacted by leaving a soft white ash resulting
in a smudge when rubbed?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. Evaluate the answers to each of the previous questions. You
will find that the fibers you listed for each question have a
common factor. (Ex. the most likely answers to the first question
will be cotton and flax, and rayon and acetate--they are all
cellulosic natural or cellulosic manufactured fibers.) What is the
common factor for answers to each of the other questions?
8. List some reasons why a fiber id burn test would be used:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
KEY
FIBER IDENTIFICATION TEST LAB
FIBERFLAMEODORRESIDUE
COTTON
natural cellulosicdoes not shrink away, burns quickly and has
glowing ember after burning.similar to burning paper.light,
feathery, light to charcoal gray in color.
LINEN
natural cellulosicdoes not shrink away, burns quickly, glowing
ember after fire extinguished.similar to burning paper.light,
feathery, light charcoal gray in color.
WOOL
natural proteincurls away from flame, burns slowly,
self-extinguishing.similar to burning hair.brittle, small black
bead.
SILK
natural proteincurls away from flame, burns slowly and sputters,
self-extinguishing.similar to burning hair.bead-like, crushable
black.
RAYON
manufactured cellulosicdoes not shrink away, burns quickly,
continues to burn with glowing ember.similar to burning
paper.light, fluffy residue, very small amount.
ACETATE
manufactured cellulosicfuses and melts away from flame, burns
quickly and continues to burn.similar to hot vinegar.irregular
shaped, hard, black bead.
ACRYLIC
manufacturedmelts, ignites readily, burns rapidly and sputters
while burning, will drip while burning.similar to hot vinegar.hard,
black, irregular bead.
NYLON
manufacturedmelts away from flame and burns slowly, fuses and
melts, self-extinguishing.similar to celery.hard, tough, gray or
tan bead.
POLYESTER
manufacturedmelts away from flame and burns slowly, fuses and
melts, self-extinguishing.chemical odor.hard, tough, black or brown
bead.
SPANDEX
manufacturedfuses but does not melt away from flame.chemical
odor.soft, sticky, and gummy.
KEY
FIBER IDENTIFICATION TEST LAB1. Which fiber(s) reacted to the
flame by burning readily and leaving a glowing ember when the flame
was extinguished?
cotton and flax (natural cellulosic)
rayon and acetate (manufactured cellulosic)
2. Which fiber(s) reacted to the flame by self-extinguishing
with no ember?
wool, silk (natural protein)
3. Which fiber(s) reacted by melting, dripping and forming a
hard mass?
acetate, acrylic, nylon, polyester (all manufactured)
4. Which fiber(s) produced a smell similar to burning paper or
wood?
cotton, flax, rayon (natural and manufactured cellulosic)
5. Which fiber(s) produced a smell resembling burning hair?
silk and wool (natural protein)
6. Which fiber(s) reacted by leaving a soft white ash resulting
in a smudge when rubbed?
cotton and flax (natural cellulosic)
7. Evaluate the answers to each of the previous questions. You
will find that the fibers you listed for each question have a
common factor. (Ex. the most likely answers to the first question
will be cotton and flax, and rayon and acetate--they are all
cellulosic natural or cellulosic manufactured fibers.) What is the
common factor for answers to each of the other questions?
Fabrics that burn quickly and have a glowing ember are
cellulosic or plant-based. Fabrics that
reacted by self-extinguishing with no ember are fibers which are
good flame-retardants. Fabrics
that melted and dripped are generally manufactured plastics and
are not good flame-retardants.
Fashion Merchandising
D-22
