Charred Cotton Fiber from a House Fire
This is a piece of coked cotton fiber that resulted from
high temperature but lack of oxygen in a house fire. The
characteristic twist is still preserved in the charred fiber. It was collected as
part of a tapelift study of a home after "remediation".
Transmitted Off Crossed Polarized Light and Reflected Darkfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
Significance in the Environment:
Coked cotton fiber in a home may be from the top of an incondescent light bulb or a
product of a fire where the amount of oxygen present is too low
to oxidize the carbon in the fiber. In this case there were many such fibers as a result
of a fire in the home. The wireing in this home was
insulated with cotton/tar insulation and much of it burned in the area damaged by this
fire.
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
