ABSTRACT
When almost the textile materials for domestic use were made from cotton, wool and linen, it was comparatively easy to identify fibres by using burning tests, staining tests and microscopic examination. Due to the introduction of many artificial fibres, fibre identification has become much more complicated. There are atleast fourteen different fundamental types of fibres, namely, cotton, wool, silk, linen jute, cellulose esters, regenerated cellulose fibres, polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, etc. Many of these fibres are available in modified forms. The presence of medullated fibres in any wool is detrimental to quality from the standpoint of the manufacture. The spinning properties of medullated wool will be inferior and in piece-dyed fabrics. To recognise the composition of fibres in fabrics by the burning test, we should know how the yarn ignites when the flame is applied, the condition of burnt portion and the odor produced by burning.
