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STRUCTURE
3.0 OBJECTIVES
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.10 ASSIGNMENTS
3.10.1 CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
3.10.2 HOME ASSIGNMENTS
3.11 SUMMING UP
3.14 REFERENCES
3.16 GLOSSARY
3. TESTS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF FIBRES
After classifying textile fibres in the first lesson of this unit, their properties
were described in the second lesson. This third and final lesson of the unit tells
you how the fibres can be identified.
3.0 Objectives
After going through this lesson, you will be able to;
3.1 Introduction
In recounting the history of textiles, it is generally not appreciated that till
about 100 years ago, it used to be an age of natural fibres dominated by cotton,
linen, jute, wool and silk fibres. As shown later in Table 3.1, because of some
unique features (like peanut like cross section of cotton, scaly structure of wool
fibre, triangular cross section of silk, etc.) these fibres could be identified by
examining their longitudinal and cross sections on a low-magnification
microscope. The first man-made fibre, viscose rayon, dates back to the end of
the 19th Century and it also had a distinctly different cross-sectional geometry
compared to the natural fibres of that time. However, as synthetic fibres were
discovered and commercially produced - the first being nylon 66 in 1938 followed
by nylon 6 in 1939, acrylic fibre in 1949, polyester fibre in 1943, polypropylene in
1957 – fibre identification became more complex because most of these synthetic
fibres were smooth with circular cross sections and a rather featureless
geometry. It therefore became necessary to extend the range of tests so that
given an unknown fibre, its exact identity should be specified.
In addition to these three tests, the following four tests also provide useful
information:
v) Density measurement
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vi) Determination of melting point, and
To examine the fibre in the longitudinal direction, a few fibres (or a few
short lengths of cut filaments) are straightened and parallelized and placed on a
glass slide. They may be secured with the help of cellotape on both ends. To
reduce scattering of light, the fibre is immersed in a drop of inert liquid having a
refractive index close to the refractive Index of the fibre and covered with a cover
glass. The sample is then mounted on the microscope stage and its focussed
image observed on the screen. The longitudinal texture may then be traced on
tracing paper.
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The characteristic features shown by some other fibres are shown schematically
in Fig. 3.2.
Fig. 3.1 Cross section (top) and longitudinal section (bottom) of cotton (left), wool (middle) and silk
(right) fibres.
Fig. 3.2 Cross- section (top) and longitudinal section (bottom) of some common fibres.
It may be added that important synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon are
generally made with circular cross section and their longitudinal and cross
sectional views are featureless and are not of great assistance in identifying
them. However, it is worth pointing out that fibres with non-circular cross-sections
(trilobal, triangular, octagonal, etc.) are also made in small quantities.
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The common observations that may be made from an examination of the
longitudinal and cross sectional views of a number of fibres are summarized in
Table 3.1.
Table 3.1
Microscopic Appearance of Some Common Fibres
*Lumen is an irregular hole running through the middle. While cutting the cross-section, it
may sometimes get covered.
Self-check Questions
1. Answer the following questions in terms of Yes/No.
a. Polyester Yes / No
b. Cotton Yes / No
c. Wool Yes / No
d. Nylon Yes / No
e. Jute Yes / No
a. Cotton Yes / No
b. Wool Yes / No
c. Polyester Yes / No
d. Polypropylene Yes / No
e. Silk Yes / No
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3.4 Burning Tests
The fibres being chemically different, they show different burning
characteristics which can be used to identify them. The burning test is a relatively
simple test as all that is needed is a flame and a keen observer who should
carefully watch and note down the observations made (a) when approaching the
flame, (b) on the burning behaviour inside the flame, (c) during removal from the
flame, (d) relating to the smell emitted, and (e) on the residue left behind after the
fibre has burnt out.
Table 3.2
Burning Behaviour of Common Fibres
Activity
1. Take a cotton fibre and a polyester fibre. Burn the two fibres separately
and write down your observations.
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3.5 Solubility Tests
The solubility of fibres in some specific chemical reagents (acid, alkali,
bleaching agent, solvent) provides a definite means of identification, if not for a
specific fibre, then for a generic group. When combined with the results of
microscopic and burning tests, the results of solubility test make it possible to
identify the fibres in most cases.
There are different schemes for making solubility tests-of course they must
be carried out in a prescribed order as they work on the principle of elimination.
The following represents one such scheme meant to identify an unknown fibre:
Step 1: Treat the fibre sample with 0.25-0.50% sodium hypochlorite solution. If
soluble, they may be wool or silk. (To distinguish between the two, treat
the fibre in cold 70% sulphuric acid- if soluble, it is silk, otherwise wool.
Alternately, test the fibre for sulphur, which is present in wool). If the
fibre is insoluble in sodium hypochlorite, go to Step 2.
Step 2: Treat the fibre with cold acetic or glacial acetic acid. If soluble, the fibre
could be cellulose diacetate or cellulose triacetate. (To distinguish
between the two, treat the fibre with methylene chloride. If soluble, it is
cellulose triacetate, if not cellulose diacetate). If the fibre is insoluble, go
to Step 3.
Step 3: Treat the fibre with cold (heat if necessary) formic acid. If soluble, the
fibre is nylon 66 or nylon 6. (To distinguish between the two, treat the
fibre with boiling dimethyl formamide (DMF). If soluble it is nylon 6,
otherwise nylon 66. Alternately determine their melting points. Nylon 6
melts at 218º C, nylon 66 at 265ºC). If the fibre is insoluble, go to Step 4.
Step 4: Treat the fibre in cold DMF. If soluble it is acrylic fibre, if insoluble, go to
Step 5.
Step 6: Treat the fibre with 70% sulphuric acid. If soluble, it could be cotton or
viscose rayon (To distinguish between the two, treat them with sodium
Zincate. If soluble, it is viscose rayon). If insoluble in step 6, go to step 7.
(Lately the use of asbestos fibre in any product has been banned in many
countries because of its suspected carcinogenic effect).
The other identification tests listed earlier will now be briefly considered:
Activity
2. Take some unknown fibres (both natural and synthetic). Perform burning
tests on them and note down the observation made. Try to identify them
on the basis of the observations made.
Self-check Questions
2. State whether the following statements are True / False.
3.6.1 Test for detecting the presence of nitrogen (Soda lime test)
Cover a few fibres in a small ignition tube with soda lime, plugging the
mouth of the tube with glass wool to prevent spitting. When the tube in heated,
ammonia will be found in the vapour if the fibre contains nitrogen. The vapour
being strongly alkaline will turn litmus paper blue.
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3.6.2 Test for detecting the presence of chlorine
Heat a copper wire in a bunsen flame until the flame is no longer of green
colour. Then take this wire out of the flame and while still hot, touch the fibres
with the wire. Thermoplastic fibres will adhere to the wire. Place the wire with the
fibres attached in the flame - a green colour will indicate the presence of chlorine.
Table 3.3
Fibre Density Data
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Fibre Density (gm/cm )
Cotton 1.52-1.55
Viscose rayon 1.49-1.52
Linen 1.53-1.55
Jute 1.49-1.50
Polynosic 1.50-1.52
Cellulose diacetate/Triacetate 1.30-1.35
Wool 1.30-1.33
Silk 1.25-1.34
Nylon 6/Nylon 66 1.14
Polyester 1.38-1.40
Acrylic 1.16-1.19
Modacrylic 1.29-1.34
Spandex 1.20-1.25
Polyethylene (Low density) 0.92-0.94
Polyethylene (High density) 0.95-0.97
Polypropylene 0.91
Glass 2.50-2.54
Table 3.4
Melting Temperature Data of Some Fibres
Cotton is cool to touch and feels soft and inelastic. Linen is cold and
smooth and has a leathery feel. However, the feeling test has its limitations and
cannot always be relied upon.
Self-check Questions
3. Match the following.
3.10 Assignments
3.10.1 Class assignments
i) You may pick up a few numbered samples of fibres from out of those
available and try to identify them using facilities made available to you. A
report of the experiments performed and the conclusions reached should
be submitted.
i) On a chart paper, draw the longitudinal section and cross sectional view of
some common natural and synthetic fibres.
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3.11 Summing Up
In this lesson, the tests which are usually performed to identify fibres are
described. These include microscopic tests, burning tests, solubility tests, density
and melting point measurement, etc. On the basis of the information, an unknown
fibre can be identified using data obtained from these tests individually or in
combination. The investigation must be systematic and scientific.
i) a) no b) yes c) no d) no e) yes
i) False
ii) False
iii) False
iv) True
v) False
vi) False
vii) True
viii) False
ix) True
x) False
i) d
ii) c
iii) f
iv) a
v) e
vi) b
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i) Though cotton burns readily, ladies are advised to wear cotton saris
while working in kitchen or during Deepavali and not saris of synthetic
material. Why?
ii) Why is wool warm to the touch and cotton cool?
3.16 Glossary
1. Polarizing Cause to vibrate in one direction only instead of
all directions
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