Identification of fibres by burning test

1. GREEN UNIVERSITY OF BANGLADESH
Department Of Textile
Lab Report
Course Code : TE 415
Course Title : Apparel Manufacturing III Lab
No Of Experiment : 03
Name Of Experiment : Study on identification of fibres by burning test.
Remarks:
Submitted By:
Name : Md Rakibul Hassan
ID : 183014057
Section : E2
Department : Textile
Submitted to:
Name : Avijeet Datta
Designation : Lecturer
Department : Textile

2. Experiment No: 03
Experiment Name: Study on identification of fibres by burning test.
Introduction:
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 lefties
easily crumbled. Small samples of burning cotton can be blown out as you would a candle. Linen:
Linen takes longer to ignite. The fabric closest to the ash is very brittle. Linen is easily extinguished
by blowing on it as you would a candle.
Silk: It is a protein fiber 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 fiber but is harder to ignite than silk as the individual "hair" fibers 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.
Acetate: Acetate burns readily with a flickering flame that cannot be easily extinguished. The
burning cellulose drips and leaves a hard ash. The smell is similar to burning wood chips.

3. Acrylic: Acrylics burn readily due to the fiber content and the lofty, air filled pockets. A match
dropped on an acrylic blanket can ignite the fabric which will burn rapidly unless extinguished.
The ash is hard. The smell is acrid or harsh
Nylon: Nylon melts and then burns rapidly if the flame remains on the melted fiber. If i 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 fiber which is almost pure cellulose. Rayon burns rapidly
and leaves only a slight ash. The burning smell is close to burning leaves
Procedure: Obtain 1–2 cm lengths or tufts of the various fibers or yarns to be tested from the
samples provided.
Hold the individual fiber samples to be tested in tweezers or tongs and bring the fibers slowly to
the side of a Bunsen burner flame. Make observations. What is the initial reaction? Does the fibre
shrink? Melt? Anything else?
2. Place the fiber in the flame and slowly withdraw it. Does the fiber burn?
3. If burning occurs, describe the flame. Color? Sooty?
4. Does burning continue or is fiber self-extinguishing?
5. If burning continues, extinguish it and carefully smell the smoke. Describe the smell. 6. Observe
the remains of the ash (burn) product. Color? Black? Pale brown? Does it crumble? Is it hard?
Bead-like?
Result:
Fibre Burning Odour Ash
characteristics
Cotton Burns with a Burningpaper, Black andpowdery
flame. Has
anafterglow
Polyester Melts and burns Faintly sweet, Hard, black
with asputtering slight round and
flame. Gives geraniumodour shiny.
offthick black
smoke.
Polypropylene Melts and burns Very littleodour. Hard, turns, opaque.
with Slightcelery odour.

4. steadyflame.
Clear flame, no
smoke.Looks like
melting
glassMelted
portion is clear.
Nylon Melts and burns Burninggarbage Hard, round, gray
withsputtering or brown shiny.
flame. Gives
offwhite smoke

5. Nomex Very slow to Faintly sweet Black, dull finish
ignite. Will crushes into
notsupport black powder.
combustionNo
melting.
Material
charsand curls
up.
Acrylic Melts and burns Faintly sweet, Resembles
rapidlySputteri slight ‘hotiron’ burned head of
ng flame. odour wooden
Thick match, crucibles
blacksmoke. into black or
brownish orange
powder
LIMITATION OF BURNING TEST: It is apparent that many fibers have similar
burning reactions that might cause doubt and occasional confusion.
Calculation:
Some fibers are slow in igniting, but then burn quickly. Others can burn hot and produce a painful
burn if caution is not maintained.. Care also must be exercised so that your hair is kept out of the
flame.
Conclusion:
By doing this experiment we learn lot of things about identification of fibres by Burning
test. It will be help full our future job life.