Hobbies And Interests
Cotton And Linen
Cotton is a common fabric for many things such as clothing, towels, bed linens, blankets and surface coverings. Cotton will burn down to ashes and leave severe burns on anyone wearing a cotton garment if they do not extinguish the flames quickly. Linen, made from fibers of the flax plant, reacts nearly the same way. These plant-based fibers burst into flame readily when exposed to open fire, much like dry leaves would if exposed to a match. Cotton and linen may or may not smoke heavily, depending on the way they have been treated during the textile process.
Wool And Silk
These animal-based fabrics burn very slowly due to the density of the material with which the fabric is made. Heavy wool or silk items made for cold weather wear may be very difficult to ignite since these are usually woven even more densely than "all use" wool or silk. Wool and silk can self-extinguish if there is little fuel on the fabric to burn, but if they do not, it is possible for them to smolder for some time. If a piece of wool or silk catches on fire, dunk the affected part in water to be certain you extinguish the fire.
Synthetics
Synthetic fabrics are any not taken from a plant or an animal. These are usually plastic-based, and they flare with various intensities and speeds depending on how they are made. Almost all of these fabrics melt when set on fire. The residue is usually molten. It can cause incredibly severe burns or start other fires if they drip onto flammable areas. Manufacturers treat most synthetics with a fire retardant spray to make them safer.
Fire Retardant Fabric
Fire retardant fabric, such as modacrylic or aramid, are typically used in situations where there is a high chance of the fabric catching on fire. They are also used in children's costumes to lessen the chance of a child getting burned if they are exposed to a flame or other heat. These fabrics char or self-extinguish quickly. Some of these fabrics may also melt, but the residue is non-flammable.