AATCC 20:2004 pdf download.Fiber Analysis: Qualitative
1.1 This test method describes physi- cal, chemical and microscopical tech- niques for identifying textile fibers used commercially in the United States. Fibers may be examined in raw fiber form or taken from yarn or fabric.
1.2 These test methods may be used to identify generic fiber types as defined by the Textile Fibers Products Identification Act and subsequent rules and regulations of the Federal Trade Commission. Quan- titative methods for determining percent- ages in blends of fibers are covered by AATCC Test Method 20A, Fiber Analy- sis: Quantitative.
2. Use and Limitations
2.1 This test method describes a num- ber of procedures—microscopical exami- nation, solubility in solvents, melting point, refractive index, and micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy—which should be used in combination to identify a fiber type. For identifying certain fibers some procedures will be found to be more effective than others.
2.2 For example, microscopical exami- nation is particularly useful in character- izing the natural fibers. It must be used with caution on man-made fibers since they are frequently produced in a number of modifications which alter the longitu- dinal or cross-sectional appearance. In addition, man-made fibers may contain some or no delusterant or other additive particles. Filaments of a given type may vary in size or cross-sectional shape. In- dividual filaments may have two or more component sections of the same or differ- ent generic types.
2.3 Even natural fibers show a fairly wide variation in typical cross-section. No specific specimen will look exactly like the pictures published. A sufficient number of fibers should be examined to cover the range of appearance in any specimen.
2.4 Successful identification of fibers depends upon experience and familiarity with the fibers. The identification of an unknown fiber is best made by compari- son with properly identified fibers used as reference standards. For this reason it is desirable to have available at least one representative fiber sample from each ge- neric class of fibers, which can be used for comparative identification.
2.5 This test method provides means for identifying the generic classification of the common fiber types. In special cases, as when dealing with fibers not de- scribed in this method or attempting to distinguish between products of different suppliers of the same generic types, one must consult standard texts on fiber iden- tification or technical bulletins issued by suppliers of man-made fibers. See refer- ences Section 13.AATCC 20 pdf download.