CSS Yarn Indentification Guide

SOLUTIONS FOR THE
CARPET INDUTRY
CAD/CAM Software
CSS Yarn Identification

Guide
CSS Yarn identification guide
1. Yarn identification
It is always possible to tell what kind of yarn you are dealing with just from the way it looks. But there are two
ways to find out:
• Look at the label

• Burn it
2. Yarn label codes

The most common carpet fibres and their international codes are listed in the table below. Different coding
systems exist, so one type of yarn may have two different codes!
Code Fibre type Code Fibre type

CC Coir (Coconut) PE Polyethylene
CO Cotton PET Polyester
CV Viscose PI Paper
HA Hemp PL Polyester
JU Jute PP Polypropylene (Olefin)
PA Polyamide (Nylon) SE Silk
PAP Paper SI Sisal
PAN Polyacrylic VI Viscose
PC Polyacrylic WO Wool
3. Burning tests
Burning the yarn is a simple way to determine the type of fibre material. The way the yarn melts or not,
the way it burns, the colour of the flame, and the colour and shape of the ashes tell a lot.
Warnings
• Some yarns burn very fast. Always use pliers or tweezers to hold the sample!
• Drops of burning material may fall down. Always work above a non-flammable surface!
19.02.08 B. Pols
3.1. Test procedure
1. Hold the yarn sample near a small flame (for example a cigarette lighter) at approximately 5mm
distance. Do not use a match; it will disguise the smell of the burning yarn. A butane lighter is odourless.
fig. 13. Melting test: PP melts easily and shrinks
• Observe if the yarn shrinks before it melts.

• Observe if it melts at all.
2. Insert the end of the sample into the flame.
fig. 14. Burn test: PP burns quickly, giving off black smoke
• Observe whether the yarn burns quickly, slowly, or not at all.

• Observe the smell. Does it smell like burning plastic, fresh celery,
burning paper of burning hair?
19.02.08 B. Pols
3. Remove the yarn from the flame.
fig.15. Extinguishing: PP continues burning out of the flame
• Observe if the yarn continues to burn or extinguishes.
4. When the flame has (been) extinguished, observe the residue.
fig.16. Residue: PP forms a hard, irregular bead
• What colour is it?

• Is it a hard bead or soft ashes?
• Is the shape round or irregular?
19.02.08 B. Pols
3.2. Melting test
Polyacrylic
Polyamide § 5.2.3.
Yarn melts
Polyester
Polypropylene
Melting test
Cotton
Yarn does Silk
not melt § 5.2.4.
Viscose
Wool
Decomposition
Fibre type Fibre type Melting point
point
Cotton 400°C Polyacrylic 130°C
Hemp 400°C Polyamide (Nylon) 260°C
Jute 400°C Polyester 260°C
Silk 180°C Polyethylene 130°C
Sisal -- °C Polypropylene (Olefin) 170°C
Viscose 200°C
Wool -- °C
19.02.08 B. Pols
3.3. Burning test – melting yarns
Sputtering flame, Polyacrylic

Burns fast lots of smoke
Blue flame,
black smoke, Polyamid
Yarn melts celery smell
Melts and drips,

Burns slowly Polyester
very sweet smell
Melts and burns,

Polypropylene
candle wax smell
Fibre type In flame Out of flame Residue

Burns rapidly, sputtering flame,
Polyacrylic continues to burn brittle, hard, irregular black bead
a lot of smoke
Burns slowly, smokes, smells
Polyamide self-extinguishes hard, shiny brown bead
like celery
Burns slowly, melts and drips,
Polyester continues to burn hard, round, yellow-brown bead
very sweet smell
Burns slowly, melts, smells like
Polypropylene continues to burn tough, hard, irregular dark bead
candle wax / burning plastic
19.02.08 B. Pols
3.4. Burning test – non-melting yarns
Burns slowly,
burning hair smell Wool
Curls away from
flame, does not
ignite easily
Burns slowly, sputters,
Silk
burning hair smell
Yarn does
not melt
Burns fast, blue flame,
burning paper smell Viscose
Does not curl
away from flame,
ignites easily Burns fast, yellow flame, Cotton
burning paper smell
Fibre type In flame Out of flame Residue

Ignites easily, burns quickly, yellow grey ashes, crumbling
Cotton continues to burn
flame, smells like burning paper easily
Curls away from the flame, burns
self-extinguishes, or brittle, round, shiny black
Silk slowly and sputters, smells like
continues to burn slowly bead
singed hair
Burns rapidly, blue flame, smells continues to burn rapidly,
Viscose dark grey, feathery ashes
like burning paper with red afterglow
Chars and curls away from the
brittle, irregular black
Wool flame, burns slowly and unevenly, self-extinguishes
ashes
smells like burning hair
19.02.08 B. Pols

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SOLUTIONS FOR THE

CSS Yarn Identification

• Look at the label

2. Yarn label codes

Code Fibre type Code Fibre type

3.1. Test procedure

fig. 13. Melting test: PP melts easily and shrinks

• Observe if the yarn shrinks before it melts.

2. Insert the end of the sample into the flame.

• Observe whether the yarn burns quickly, slowly, or not at all.

3. Remove the yarn from the flame.

fig.15. Extinguishing: PP continues burning out of the flame

• Observe if the yarn continues to burn or extinguishes.

4. When the flame has (been) extinguished, observe the residue.

fig.16. Residue: PP forms a hard, irregular bead

• What colour is it?

3.2. Melting test

3.3. Burning test – melting yarns

Sputtering flame, Polyacrylic

Melts and drips,

Melts and burns,

Fibre type In flame Out of flame Residue

3.4. Burning test – non-melting yarns

Fibre type In flame Out of flame Residue

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