What is Burning?
Burning, a technique used for textile testing, is the burning of fabric to find out what fibers it's made of. This process can provide a wealth of information like the color, texture, and smell of the fabric's residue that can aid in identifying the fiber content.
For instance, when synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon are burned, they emit an acrid odor and leave a hard, brittle residue. Meanwhile, natural fibers like cotton and wool produce a sweet smell and leave behind soft, crumbly ash.
The process of burning requires only a small fabric sample, which is held with tweezers and set on fire using a lighter or matchstick. The tester then examines the residue and notes its characteristics.
Despite its usefulness, caution must be exercised when using the burning method. Burning fabric can produce harmful fumes that can cause health problems, and it should be done only in well-ventilated areas. Moreover, burning can damage or destroy the fabric, making it unsuitable for use. Hence, alternative testing methods like chemical tests and microscopy may be used in cases where burning is not feasible.
