PC Blend (Polyester/cotton):
Take 0.5-1.0 grams of blended sample which need to be tested in a flask.
Add 75% (w/w) Sulphuric Acid (M: L 1:200).
Heat the flask for one hour at 50 ± 5oC on a Water Bath.
Cotton dissolves and left-over matter is polyester.
Wash it and neutralize it with Dilute Ammonia solution.
Dry at 110oC then cool and weigh to find the blend composition.
Blend of Protein Fibers (Wool or Silk) with cotton, polyester, nylon or acrylic:
Take 0.5-1.0 grams of blended sample which need to be tested in a flask.
Add 5% (w/w) solution of Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide.
Heat the flask for 10 min on a Water Bath.
Protein Fiber dissolves in Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide.
Wash leftover substance with water and neutralize with dilute Acetic Acid.
Dry at 110oC then cool and weigh to find the ratio of protein Fibers.
Cotton/Viscose Blend:
Take 0.5-1.0 grams of blended sample which need to be tested in a flask.
Add 60% (w/w) Sulphuric Acid (M: L 1:100).
Stir the solution mechanically for 30min. viscose will be dissolved and cotton will be leftover.
Wash leftover cotton with water and neutralize with dilute Ammonium Hydroxide.
Dry at 110oC then cool and weigh to find the blend composition.
Note: Cotton looses 5% weight during this process.
Blend of Acrylic with Wool, Silk, Cotton, Viscose, Polyester or Nylon:
Take 0.5-1.0 grams of blended sample which need to be tested in a flask.
Add Dimethyl Formamide (DMF) to it.
Acrylic dissolves in DMF.
Filter, Rinse the leftover sample.
Dry at 110oC then cool and weigh to find the Acrylic Fiber composition.
Polyester/Cotton/Viscose Blend:
Take 0.5-1.0 grams of blended sample which need to be tested in a flask.
Add 60% (w/w) Sulphuric Acid.
Viscose dissolves in 60% Sulphuric Acid.
Dry and weigh carefully the rest of the fibers.
Put these fibers in 75% Sulphuric acid. Cotton will dissolve.
The fibers left will be of polyester, which are weighed after thorough washing and drying.
Blend of Polyester with Cotton or Viscose:
Take 0.5-1.0 grams of blended sample which need to be tested in a flask.
Add Meta Cresol and heat.
Polyester fibers will dissolve in Meta Cresol.
Filter, Rinse the leftover sample.
Dry and weigh the sample to find the polyester composition.
Blend of Elastane (Spandex or Lycra) with Cotton or Viscose:
Take 0.5-1.0 grams of blended sample which need to be tested in a flask.
Add Dimethyl Formamide (DMF) to it.
Elastane will dissolve in DMF.
Filter, Rinse the leftover sample.
Dry and weigh the sample to find the Elastane composition.
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