SUBJECT: HOME ECONOMICS

CLASS: JSS 3

DATE:

TERM: 1st TERM

WEEK 3

TOPIC: EXPERIMENTS AND TESTS OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS

Simple scientific experiments and tests for textile fibres include

Appearance and handle test: This is not a definite test. This is because a number of fabrics can have similar appearance and handle.

Microscopic test: This is a test to study the structure of the fibres under a microscope.

The table below shows the indicator of appearance and handle test, microscopic test, strength test and burning test of different fabrics.

Fibre	Appearance and handle test	Microscopic test
Cotton	Plain-weave cotton fabric Is cool to feel and fairly. Has a dull appearance	Fibres is flat It is twist It resembles a twisted ribbon
Linen	Plain –weave linen fabric A cool crisp handle Is warm to handle	Fibre rounded and smooth with swelling or nodes at interval.
Wool	Projectile fibres It is elastic feel Is warm to handle	Wool fibre is covered with scales that overlap and point towards the tip of the fibre
Silk	Plain –weave silk Has a smooth and rich lustrous appearance. Is soft, smooth to handle	Raw silk fibres are seen as double filament
Viscose Rayon	Plain –weave viscose A smooth fairly handle. A smooth lustrous appearance. It may resemble silk.	Fibre is rounded with groves running length –wise. It looks like transparent rods streaked with wavy line
Acetate	Plain-weave viscose Is silk like Drapes well May be dull or lustrous	Fibres are rounded with one or more surface ridges which look like thickened lines.
nylon	Fabric is very smooth and slippery	Filament look like a smooth glass rod
Polyesters	These have a smooth slippery feel, slightly stiffer than nylon	Filament look like glass rods

Fibers	Strength Test	Burning Test
Cotton	It is strong when dry	Leave very little grey or white powder ash. Burns in and out of flame.
Linen	Stronger than cotton and increases in strength when wet.	Similar to cotton
Wool	Looses strength when wet	Does not burn but smolders. Give smell of burning hair or feather.
Silk	Loose about 20% of its strength when wet.	Similar to wool
Viscose	Loose strength when wet	Similar to cotton
Acetate	It looses less strength than viscose when wet.	Burns like cotton Fumes smell like boiling celery.
Nylon	Loose strength when wet	Shrinks from flame. Melts into a hard white or grey bead
Polyester	Loose no strength when wet	Shrinks from fame Melts giving a slightly sweet or aromatic smell.

USES OF FABRICS

FABRICS	USES
Cotton	It is used for bed sheet, pillowcases, and table cloth.
Linen	It is used for kitchen linen, tea-towels, and table covers. Tray cover dresses.
Wool	It is used for underwear, sweaters, socks, suits.
Silk	It is used for making scarves, tiles, dresses, shirts.
Acetate	It is used for dresses, evening wears, shirts, ties, umbrellas.
Nylon	It is used for underwear, night wears, stockings, carpets, curtains.
polyester	It is used for varieties of dresses, bed sheets, pillow cases, home furnishing.
Viscose	It is used for bed sheets, bed covers, brocades, batting suits.

Fabric Album (The completion of the album can be given as an assignment (PRACTICAL IS REQUIRED)

Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Junior Secondary School 3