To identify fabric that is unknown, a simple burn test can be done to determine if the fabric is a natural fiber, man made fiber, or a blend of natural and man made fibers. The burn test is used by many fabric stores and designers and takes practice to determine the exact fiber content. However, an inexperienced person can still determine the difference between many fibers to “narrow” the choices down to natural or man made fibers. This elimination process will give information necessary to decide the care of the fabric.
All fibers will burn! Asbestos treated fibers are, for the most part fire proof. The burning test should be done with caution. Use a small piece of fabric only. Hold the fabric with tweezers, not your fingers. Burn over a metal dish with soda in the bottom or even water in the bottom of the dish. Some fabrics will ignite and melt. The result is burning drips which can adhere to fabric or skin and cause a serious burn.
Fabric Identification with burning test,please Note this down.
Press very gently with a fingertip in order to feel the ashes.
Natural fabrics:These fabrics include Cellulosic fibers like cotton, linen and rayon and Protien fabrics like wool and silk. These fabric catch fire easily and burn with a yellow flame and go on to have an afterglow and leave a soft ash -grey or white as a residue.
Cotton, Linen, Ramie, Hemp, Bamboo:These fabrics burn very quickly on contact with fire. They burn with the smell of burning paper, leaves, or wood and leave soft grey coloured ash.
Wool:If the fabric is wool: The fabric do not catch fire easily. The smell of fabric burning is that of human hair burning. When you crush the remnants it feels soft and powdery. All these are the same for wool blend as well.
Silk:Silk shrink away from the flame. It does not continue to burn after the flame is removed. Silk burns with a smell of burning feathers and leaves an irregular shaped black bead as a residue which will easily powder to ash
Rayon/Viscose/Tencel:If the Fabric is Rayon/Viscose: The fabric catches fire quite easily and makes a big flame soon enough. The smell of fabric burning is that of burnt leaves. When you touch the remnants they feel powdery
Synthetic Fabrics:This includes Polyester, Nylon, Acetate, Acrylic, Olefin and Spandex. Synthetic fabrics have high melting point but melt easily enough once that is crossed. They burn and melt when ignited and continue to burn even after the flame is removed from the fabric. They produce smoke as they burn and this may be toxic, so take all precautions. Leaves a plastic like bead as residue.
Polyester :If the fabric is polyester: The fabric burns very quickly. The smell of fabric burning is that of chemical vinegar or burnt plastic. There will be small hard lumps in the ashes.