Burn Test for Identifying Fabric

Some info on burn tests from silk road fabrics (http://www.srfabrics.com):

Linen fibers won't shrink from the flame, will burn with a yellow flame while in it, continues to burn when the flame is removed, and smells like burning paper. There is a little grey ash residue after extinguishing.

Cotton reacts much the same, because they are both cellulose, but cotton has much shorter, limper fibers. Practice with a little of each known fiber to get a feel for the difference.

Fiber Burning Links:
Fabric Identification at Fabrics
Burn Test at Bridgepoint
The Burn Test at Central Sewing.
Blue Sky Filters Fabric Identification Table
BURNING CHARACTERISTICS OF SYNTHETIC FIBERS
How to determine fabric content by using the burn test.

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This page was last modified Thursday, 25-Sep-2003 16:41:47 PDT