Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
(Zussmann 1972). For many centuries, small cloths woven from asbestos
fibers were a luxury item used for handling hot domestic and industrial
articles.
Metal Threads.
Metal threads
, not really metal fibers but metal filaments,
are human-made. In antiquity, metal threads were made for ornamental or
decorative purposes from precious, ductile metals or alloys, particularly
silver and gold and their alloys. Such threads were either applied with adhe-
sives to finished fabrics or wound around ordinary textile yarn cores; the
metal-covered yarn was then either woven into textile fabrics or embroi-
dered on the textile fabric (Járó and Tóth 1991; Lee-Whitmann and Skelton
1984).
13.2.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIBERS AND FIBROUS MATERIALS
The identification of ancient fibers is an important part of the study of
archaeological textiles and cordage. The most important preliminary infor-
mation usually required, regarding archaeological fibers, is their qualitative
identification, that is, determining their origin and nature, whether they are
of vegetable or animal origin. A relatively easy test used for this purpose is
the
burning test
, which generally provides reliable information: igniting
fibers and observing how they burn and the products of the burning process
usually provides dependable evidence on their nature. Typical results of
fiber burning tests are listed Table 91.
For blends of vegetable and animal fibers, however, the burning test may
be indecisive. Moreover, dyes and mordants on yarns or fabrics may affect
TABLE 91
Burning Characteristics of Fibers and Filaments
Burning process
Nature
After removal
of fiber
Near flame
In flame
from flame
Odor
Residue
Vegetable
Ignites; does
Burns
Continues
Similar to
Feathery, light
not shrink
rapidly
burning and
burning
to dark gray
afterglows
paper
Animal
Curls away
Burns
Self-
Similar to
Small black
from flame
slowly
extinguishes
burning
bead
hair
Inorganic
Does not
Glows
Does not burn
None
Unaltered
(metal or
burn
mineral)
