Overview
ISO 17751-2:2023 specifies a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) method for the identification, qualitative and quantitative analysis of cashmere, wool, other speciality animal fibres and their blends. Applicable to loose fibres, intermediate products and finished textile products, the standard defines how to prepare test specimens, image fibre surface morphology by SEM, and calculate mass fractions of fibre types in blends.
Key Topics
- Scope and purpose: Identification and quantification of cashmere, wool and other speciality animal fibres (e.g., yak, camel, mohair, angora) and their blends using SEM.
- Principle: Longitudinal SEM imaging of gold- or metal-coated fibre snippets; detection of secondary electrons to reveal surface topography and scale structure.
- Sampling & specimen preparation: Requirements for lot sampling, laboratory samples and preparation methods for loose fibre, sliver, yarn, woven and knitted fabrics; coating procedure (sputter coating) for SEM imaging.
- Measurement & calculation: Counting and measuring number and diameter of fibre snippets; calculation of mass fraction using snippet counts, mean and standard deviation of diameters and true fibre densities.
- Reagents & apparatus: Specifies essential materials (e.g., acetone, ethyl acetate, double-sided tape) and equipment (SEM, sputter coater, microtome, measurement software).
- Analysis types: Distinguishes qualitative (purity) analysis** and** quantitative analysis, with required specimen numbers and reporting formats.
- Supporting information: Annex B (surface morphology micrographs) and Annex C (density data) to assist fibre identification; Annex A on sampling drawings.
Applications
ISO 17751-2:2023 is practical for:
- Textile testing laboratories performing fibre identification and blend quantification.
- Quality control teams in manufacturers and brands verifying cashmere content and preventing mislabelling or fraud.
- Certification bodies, customs and regulatory agencies assessing product claims and compliance.
- Research institutions and forensic textile analysts needing high-resolution surface morphology data.
- Supply chain assurance for high-value speciality fibres where accurate compositional analysis is critical.
Benefits include improved detection of adulteration, reliable determination of fibre composition by mass fraction, and complementary use with light microscopy (LM) when SEM alone is insufficient.
Related standards
- Other parts of the ISO 17751 series address complementary methods and procedures for quantitative analysis of speciality animal fibres.
- The SEM method is intended to be used alongside light microscopy (LM) techniques for comprehensive fibre identification and verification.
Keywords: ISO 17751-2:2023, scanning electron microscopy, SEM method, cashmere analysis, quantitative analysis of cashmere, textile testing, fibre identification, surface morphology, sample preparation, blend quantification.