1

Date: 25/01/2011

Topic:
Identification of different fibers by
microscopically & chemical test
test.

Submitted to:

Umera Islam

Lecturer of B.S.T.E.

City University

Submitted by
SL NO NAME ID
01 Faysal Islam 09322015
09322015
02 Shahriar Al
Al--Sehab 09322131
03 Mohammad Sajib 09322079
04 Sumon Miah 09322121

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

Control
 2

Types of test

Non-
Non-technical Technical Test

Feeling Test Burning Test Microscopic Test Chemical test

Our topic is Microscopic test & chemical test of various fibers. But before this we should know the
classification of test, because “A LITTLE LEARNING IS A DENGEROUS THING”.

Full information of anything can increase quality of a work. For this we are trying to focus on Technical
test broadly Which is consist of microscopic test chemical test. It’s impossible to recognize with certainty
every fiber by chemical means alone .the microscope alone will do this, but a combination of chemical
and microscopical methods usually removes all doubt .An additionally advantage of microscopical
testing is the fact that very small samples may be used and that the samples are not destroyed .

Those two types of testing discussed under Technical test.

Few words on Technical Test

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 fiber tests.

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 3

Technical’s tests require high skilled person know how to handle 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.

Requirements for tests:

Preparation of test specimen.

Apparatus for microscopic examination.

Reagents used for chemical tests.

Other tools and equipment.

WHAT IS 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 manmade ones.

 Synthetic fibers are very similar in appearance and the increase in the number of varieties, make
s it a little tough to distinguish the fibers even under a microscope.

Microscopic test for different fibers:

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 200 to
400 convolutions per
inch.

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 4

LINEN:

Under the microscope, the

hair like flax fiber shows
several sided cylindrical
filaments with fine pointed
ends.
The fiber somewhat
resembles a straight smooth
line.

Wool

Under the microscope ,

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

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 5

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.

Rayon

Rayon fibers have a glasslike

luster under the microscope
and appear to have a uniform
diameter when viewed
longitudinally.

Acetate

The cross sectional view has a

bulbous or multifocal
appearance with
indentations.
These indentations appear
as occasional markings or

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 6

Nylon

The basic microscopic appearance

is generally fine ,
round, smooth, and
translucent. it is also produced in
multifocal cross-sectional
types.

Polyesters

Generally, polyester fibers are

smooth and straight and the
cross-section is round.
This general characteristics
may be altered to achieve

Spandex

Spandex fibers are unique in

appearance, they appear to be
groups of fibers fused together.

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 7

Glass

The fiber is smooth, round,

translucent, highly lustrous,
and quite flexible.

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

CHEMICAL TEST

Stain Test Solvent test

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 8

Stain Test:

Also known as the Double Barrel Fiber Identification (DBFI), the test is based on the theory that each fiber
has its own distinct two- color reaction when treated with stain. A fiber will turn to a particular color in the
presence of dilute acetic acid and to some other specific color when stained in the presence of a mild
alkali.

Solvent Test:

The test involves treating the fibers in certain solvents for identifying them. The technical test is becoming
difficult to conduct as most of the manufactured fibers and their blends are chemically similar. There is no
individual chemical or solvent test for separating or identifying the fibers in combinations.

Some tests

Distinguishing animal from vegetable fibers 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 fibers will not
be affected by this solution.

Distinguishing vegetable from animal fibers 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 fibers:

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.

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 9

Distinguishing Polymer from other fibers:

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 Acrylics from other fibers:

Acrylic fibers will dissolve in 70 percent solution of ammonium thio cyanate at 130 degree Celsius
but the other fibers will not.

Distinguishing Linen from cotton:

Cotton and linen are immersed in a 1% solution of fuchsine in alcohol to give red rose color.
Later, they are washed and immersed into ammonia, linen retains the red coloration but cotton does not.

Distinguishing Glass fibers from other fibers:

There are two specific solvents for quick identification of glass fibers, they are hydrofluoric acid
and hot phosphoric acid.

This technical fibre identification test has the following advantages

and limitations:

Advantages:

More reliable than the non technical tests.

Used for both manmade fibers and natural fibers.

Easily conducted.

Limitations

Certain manufacturing and finishing processes like mercerizing, affects the appearance of the
fibers under the microscope.

Very dark colored fabrics cannot be identified under Microscope.

Dye stuffs must be removed from fabrics.

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 10

Soda Caustic Sodium Hydro Nitric Nitric Sulphur Sulphur Burning in Microsc remarks
ash soda hypoch c asid asid ic acid ic acid flame Opic view
Fiber 40% 25% oloride Holori 15% 70% 15% 70%
test soln soln c
acid
40%

viscos swells Swells Gets Turns Dissolv Dissolve Dissolves Dissolv Burns Longit Soft
& weeken Yello es s es contin udinal filament
shines d w On quickly uously Irregu Good
heating leaving lar lines lusture
gray ash of
burning
paper
smell
Silk Loss Dissolv Dissolv Dissolve Dissolv self Densed Coating
strengt es es ------- ------- s -------- es extinguishi centre delicate
h Slowly Partially Line luster
ng uneven filament
leaves
crushable
black beads

Wool Do Do Dissolv ------- ------- Dissolve ------- ------- self Scales Rough
es s extinguishi Structure crimpy
Slowly fibre
ng
leaves
crushable
black beads
fish

polyest ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Dissolve Transpare Dissolv Transluce Resistant
er s nt hard es Burns nt of
Slowly beads Slowly &stop uniform chemical
Prolonge leveling
d semi
treatme
nt
Acrylic ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Loss ------- Turns Dissolves Burn stop Transluce
Strength yellow &turn of flame nt
& brown yellowish leveling uniform
Dissolve brown dark lofty &
s beads more
Slowly volumino
us
Nylon ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Loss ------- Dissolv Burn stop Transluce Strong
Strength es of flame nt more
Slowly leveling uniform elastic
dark beads

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1

 11

Textile Testing & Quality Control-1