The first method is the sensory identification technique. This approach requires some experience, but it's not difficult to master. The more you shop in stores and touch different fabrics, the more you'll learn over time.
There are four main aspects to roughly identify fibers:
**Touch:**
Soft fabrics like silk, rayon, and nylon feel smooth and delicate.
**Weight:**
Lighter fabrics include nylon, acrylic, and polypropylene. Heavier ones are silk, cotton, hemp, and viscose. Fabrics that have a similar weight to silk include vinylon, wool, acetate, and polyester.
**Strength:**
If you stretch the fabric by hand and it breaks easily, it could be glue (like wool or hair), vinegar fiber, or animal hair. Stronger fibers like silk, cotton, hemp, and synthetic materials are more durable. After wetting, protein-based fibers and viscose lose their strength significantly.
**Elasticity:**
When stretched by hand, hair and vinegar fibers show high elasticity. Cotton and hemp have low elasticity, while silk, rayon, and most synthetic fibers have moderate elasticity.
**How to distinguish silk from rayon by touch:**
- Silk feels soft and elastic, with a silky sound when rubbed and a cool sensation. Rayon feels rougher and has a damp, cold texture.
- Silk is brighter and less glaring, while rayon often has a metallic sheen.
- When you grab the fabric and release it, silk wrinkles less than rayon.
- If you put a drop of water on the fabric, rayon tends to break apart easily, while silk remains firm.
**Identifying different fibers through their sensory characteristics:**
| Fiber Name | Feel Characteristics |
|------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Cotton | Soft, slightly elastic, and prone to wrinkling |
| Hemp | Rough texture, often with imperfections |
| Silk | Shiny, soft, lightweight, and makes a rustling sound when pinched, with a cool feeling |
| Wool | Elastic, soft, lustrous, warm, and less prone to wrinkling |
| Polyester | High elasticity, smooth, strong, stiff, and cool |
| Nylon | Durable, elastic, smooth, light, but not as soft as silk |
| Vinylon | Similar to cotton, duller in shine, less soft, and not very resilient |
| Acrylic | Good insulation, strong, lighter than cotton, soft and fluffy |
| Viscose | Softer than cotton, shinier, but less colorfast |
The second method is the label identification technique. The sensory method can be quite basic and isn't always effective for synthetic or blended fabrics. In reputable stores or well-known brands, you can check the care labels to identify the fabric composition. These labels are usually issued after textile quality inspections and are highly authoritative. Most labels list two key details: the fiber name and its percentage content. Sometimes, the fiber names are in English, which can be confusing. Below is a list of common fiber names in both Chinese and English for reference:
**Cotton - Cotton**
**Acrylic - Acrylic**
**Linen - Linen**
**Spandex - Polyurethane**
**Wool - Wool**
**Polypropylene - Polypropylene**
**Silk - Silk**
**Polyvinyl Chloride - PVC**
**Viscose - Rayon**
**Copper Ammonia Fiber - Cuprammonium (Cupro)**
**Polyester - Polyester**
**Acetate - Acetate**
**Nylon - Polyamide**
**Polyurethane - Elastane**
**Vinyl - Vinal**
**Rayon - Nitrocellulose**
By combining these methods, you can gain a better understanding of the fabric you're working with, making it easier to choose the right material for your needs.
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