Forensics (Fibers) Science Olympiad

Wool (Burn test)

Shrivels, leaves brown-black residue, smells like burning hair

Silk (Burn Test)

Shrivels, leaves black residue, smells like burning hair

Cotton (Burn test)

Burns with a steady flame, smells like burning paper, able to blow flame from a thread like a match, charred whitish ash

Linen (Burn test)

Burns at constant rate, no smoke, smells like burning grass, produces sparks

Polyester (Burn test)

Melts, only ignites when in the flame, drips when it burns & bonds quickly to surface it drips on, sweet odor and hard, colored ash

Nylon (Burn test)

Curls, melts, produces black residue, smells like burning plastic (celery?), ignites only when brought into flame

Spandex (Burn test)

Melts quickly

Wool (Micro View)

Cylinder with scales

Silk (Micro View)

Thin, long, and smooth cylinder

Cotton (Micro View)

Irregular twisted ribbon

Linen (Micro View)

Smooth, bamboo-like structure

Polyester (Micro View)

Completely smooth cylinder

Nylon (Micro View)

Fine, round, smooth, translucent

Spandex (Micro View)

Flattened, ridged fibers, clustered