Fabrics and Textiles

I. Fabrics and Textiles – almost all fibers and textiles are combustible.
A fiber is a very
fine thin strand or thread like object. Fabrics are twisted or woven fibers. And textiles are
machine woven or knitted fabric.
Classification of Fibers
a. Natural Fibers – they come from plants (Coir – coconut fiber, Cotton – seed fiber,
pulp – wood fiber) , from animals (wool, silk, protein fibers – leather), from minerals
(asbestos)
b. Synthetic/Artificial Fibers – organic fibers, cellulose fibers, cellulose acetate, non-
cellulose, and inorganic fibers like fiber glass, steel
Factors affecting the combustibility of fibers
a. Chemical composition – natural and synthetic organic fibers are generally highly
combustible materials especially if they are dry. Mineral fibers and synthetic
inorganic fibers are normally fire resistant materials.
b. Fiber finish or coating – fiber coating combined with organic fibers are supportive to
continued burning of fabric.
c. Fabric weight – the heavier the fabric, the greater its resistance to ignition, thus
delaying its ignition.
d. Tightness of weave – the closer the fiber are woven, the smaller the space it contains,
thus it takes a longer period to ignite it.
e. Flame retardant treatment – fabric treated with flame retardant have higher resistance
to ignition.
Fabric Ignition
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) is a numerical basis of measuring the tendency of

a fabric to continuously burn once source of ignition is removed. If the LOI of a fabric is
high, the probability that it will cease to burn once the flame is removed is also high.
Fabrics with high LOI and high ignition temperature are safer for clothing and furnishing
because they do not ignite easily. Also, they do not continue burning after the source of
heat or flame is removed.
Test for Fibers:

1. Burning test or ignition test
2. Fluorescence test
3. Microscopic test
4. Chemical test
a. staining test
b. dissolution test
Burning or ignition test ( A simple preliminary macroscopic examination. A test that

determines whether fiber is mineral, animal or vegetable. A single fiber is applied with
flame at one end and the following are noted:
a. manner of burning
b. odor of fumes
c. appearance of burnt end
d. color of ash
e. action of fumes on moistened red and blue litmus paper
f. effect of fumes on a piece of filter paper moistened with lead acetate
Fluorescence test – frequently used to determine the general group to which a fiber
belongs. It is not reliable for positive identification of fiber.
Microscopic examination – the fiber is placed on a slide teased and covered. In general
it is the most reliable and best means of identifying fibers.
Characteristics of common textile fibers
1. Cotton – unicellular filament, flat, ribbon-like, twisted spirally to right or left on its
axis; central canal is uniform in diameter. Cell wall thick, covered by a thick,
structureless, waxy cuticle. Fibers taper gradually to a blunt or rounded point at one
end.
2. Mercerized Cotton – straight, cylindrical with occasional twist; unevenly lustrous,
smooth except for occasional transverse fold or wrinkles; cuticle mostly lacking.
3. Linen – multicellular filament, straight and cylindrical, not twisted and flattened,
tapering to a sharpvg point. Cell walls thick, the lumen appearing as a narrow dark
line in the center of the fiber to appear jointed resembling bamboo.
4. Cultivated silk - smooth, cylinder, lustrous threads, usually single but often double,
the twin filament held together by an envelope of gum. More or less transparent,
without definite structure.
5. Wild silk-similar to cultivated silk but broader and less regular in outline. Marked by
very fine longitudinal striations with infrequent diagonal cross markings.
6. Artificial silk-cylindrical, lustrous, appearing like a glass rod.
7. Wool-easily distinguished by presence of flattened, overlapping epidermal scales not
found on silk or any of the vegetable fibers.

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Fabrics and Textiles

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I. Fabrics and Textiles – almost all fibers and textiles are combustible.

Factors affecting the combustibility of fibers

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) is a numerical basis of measuring the tendency of

Test for Fibers:

Burning or ignition test ( A simple preliminary macroscopic examination. A test that

Characteristics of common textile fibers

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