[MR] fabric identification

[Stefan li Rous]

Geffrei said:

<<< How to really determine poly/cotton content percentages:

Take extremely accurate (down to 4 decimal places) weight of finely  
shredded
material.
Boil such in chlorine beach. (Only do this under industrial chemical  
vent hood
using gloves and eye protection and an apron.)
The cotton totally, absolutely, completely dissolves. (my main point)
Filter off the bleach.
Let residual dry.
Weigh the remaining poly.
Do the math to compute percentages. Poly percent = poly weight/ 
original weight. >>>

Do other natural fabrics than cotton also desolve in bleach? Do all  
synthetics survive?

This sounds like this test might be useable to identify unknown  
fabrics. I know that a burn test is the most common way, and easier to  
do at the fabric store, but I'm wondering if this technique might add  
some details.

For those interested in other fabric identification tests, see this  
file in the TEXTILE ARTS section of the Florilegium:
fabric-ident-msg (24K) 12/30/04 Identifying unknown fabric w. various  
tests.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/TEXTILES/fabric-ident-msg.html

Of course, if anyone has some other techniques they used successfully,  
I'd love to get them by email or on this list to add to this file.

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****