FIBER IDENTIFICATION Most synthetic fibers can be cleaned with standard procedures and cleaners.

Potential cleaning problems arise with the use of natural fibers. To determine if a fiber is natural or synthetic we perform the burn test.

Obtain a piece of the carpet to be cleaned or cut small tufts from an inconspicuous place of the carpet itself. Hold the tuft with a tweezers so as to not burn your fingers. Apply flame to the fiber and observe the following.

1. Does it melt or not? 2. How it burns. a. Rapidly or slowly? b. Does it go out when the flame is removed or continue to burn. c. Does it smolder? 3. How it smells a. Odor after burning 4. The ash a. Color b. Hardness 5. The molten bead, if it melts. a. Color b. Harness The test is done as follows: 1. Hold a small piece of yearn near the flame and observe whether the yarn melts as you bring the flame close. 2. Hold the yarn in the flame and note how fast it burns. 3. Withdraw the flame and note if the yarn continues to burn or goes out. 4. Smell the odor of the burnt yarn. 5. Note the color of the ash and whether it is hard and brittle by pinching between fingers.

6. If a molten bead forms, note the color and hardness. If some type of flame retardant or other finish has been applied to a fiber, it may not respond naturally to the burn test. A textile may be make by using one or more fibers. This fact should be taken into consideration when you attempt to determine what fiber or fibers have been used. To make certain you are getting correct results, take samples of yarn from various colors, directions in the weave, plies, and from different areas of a carpeting, since the yarns are not always uniform over an entire surface. When a yarn is made up of a blend of two or more fibers, it may be impossible to detect any or all of them. If should be remembered that the results of this test are used only as a method to classify fibers into broad classes. Results of the burn test are listed on the following identification charts. NATURAL FIBERS (ANIMAL) Fiber Smell Ember and Flame Small flickering flame, brittle ash, no smoldering (will not burn after flame is removed). Calm flame, no smoldering. (Will not burn after flame is removed). Black beads, crushable.

Wool

Burning Hair

Silk

Burning Feathers

NATURAL FIBERS (VEGETABLES) Fiber Rayon (Synthetic) Smell Ember and Flame Rapid burning flame, slow burning embers, no ash, no bead. Flame amber or yellow, slow burning; fluffy grayish ash.

Burning Wood

Cotton

Burning Paper

SYNTHETIC FIBERS (MAN-MADE)

Fiber

Smell Boiling green vegetables (string beans or celery)

Ember and Flame Dissolves and forms an effervescent flame; produces a hard, amber-beaded ash. Melts and produces a scorching flame; forms a hard tan bead. Hard, black residue. Burns quickly. Burns rapidly; produces a black, hard, rounded ash.

Nylon

Olefin

Asphalt

Acrilan (Acrylic) Polyester

Sharp, pungent, unpleasant odor Sweetish