Charred Fiber
This appears to be a charred mercerized cotton
fiber. The length of the fiber, its
twisted pattern, the distortions visible in the lumin at lower left, and the broken
terminations are consistent with
mercerized cotton.
Reflected Darkfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
Significance in the Environment:
Clothing fibers and paper fibers are two of the most common particles in household
dusts. These fibers can melt or char
on exposure to heat from an incandescent light bulb, electric heating elements, or other
source of heat in the home.
Cellulose fibers such as paper fibers, jute, cotton, linen, rayon, polyacrylonytrile,
etc. char rather than melt.
Populations of charred fibers in a home increase in the Autumn and Winter with the use
of electric heaters, fireplaces,
wood stoves, etc. These sources of heat can also be a source of soot from charred skin
flakes, another of the most common
particle types in a home.
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
