Optical Properties For Students

6/11/2022
Mahmudul Hasan
Lecturer(Technical)
Dr. M A Wazed Miah Textile Engineering College
Mahmudul Hasan
Lecturer (Textile), DWMTEC
Optical Properties
The main source of light on Earth is the Sun.
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation within the portion of

the electromagnetic spectrum that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is
usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nm.
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Optical Properties
Optical Properties
When light falls on a fiber, it may be partly transmitted,
absorbed or reflected, depending on the structure of the light.
The transmission, reflection and absorption of light determine
the visual appearance of an individual fiber. So, visual
appearance of any fiber depends on the optical properties of
fiber.
Thus, the optical properties of fabrics need to be taken into

consideration when dyeing, printing or color matching fabrics.
Mahmudul Hasan
Optical Properties
Polarization and light
Light is an electro magnetic wave. When light travels, it is
distributed in two ways such as electric field and magnetic
field.
The process of transforming unpolarized light into polarized light is known as

polarization. Polarized light has its E field in one direction.
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Optical Properties
Refractive Index
The index of refraction or refractive index is a ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum
to the velocity of light in the medium.
Velocity of light in vacuum

∴ Refractive index (n)= —————————————————
Velocity of light in the medium
Snell’s law is related to the index of refraction
VA sinθA nB
Snell's law = —— = ——— = ——
VB sinθB nA
Where,
VA & VB = the speed of light in two mediums
nA & nB = the refractive index of two the mediums
θA =the angle of incidence
θB =the angle of incidence
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Optical Properties
Fiber density affects the refractive index of a fiber

The refractive index of fibers is affected by the fiber density.
This is because, the refractive index will increase when the
number of molecules present increase. For many fibers, the
relation between refractive index and fiber density (ρ) can be
expressed by Gladstone and Dale’s law:
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Optical Properties
Effect of moisture regain on the refractive index of fiber
The refractive index of water is 1.33. The refractive index values of most fibers are greater
than of water, and hence they decrease with increase in moisture regain. Figure shows
schematically the effect of moisture on the average refractive index of fibers. For some
fibers, an increase in refractive index is observed at low moisture regains and this
probably is caused by the filling up of voids or defects in the fibers by water.
Effect of moisture on the refractive index can be described by:

vMR(nMR-1) = v0(n0-1) + 0.333MR
Where,
v0 = volume of 1 gm of dry fiber
vMR = volume of sample fiber at a frictional moisture reign of MR
n0 = refractive index of dry fiber
nMR= refractive index of moisture fiber Mahmudul Hasan
Optical Properties
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Optical Properties
Birefringence
Most oriented fiber can be characterized by two principle refractive indices
one parallel to the fiber axis (nιι) and another perpendicular to the fiber axis
(n⊥). Here, the subscripts indicates the vibration direction of light waves.
Fig: Principle refractive indices of fiber

So, the difference between the refractive index indices of the fiber in a
direction at parallel to the fiber axis and in a direction at right angles to the
fiber axis is called birefringence of that fiber. Birefringence is responsible the
phenomenon of double reflection.
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Optical Properties
Birefringence(Δn) = nιι-n⊥
Where, nιι& n⊥ are the refractive indices in a direction at
parallel and perpendicular to the fiber axis respectively.
When fiber molecules are parallel to the fiber axis, then
the fiber is more electron polarized.
Greater the value of birefringence indicate the most of
molecules are lined up parallel to the fiber axis & it will be
zero if they are randomly directed.
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Optical Properties
Birefringence property depends on the following factors
The magnitude of the birefringence depends on two factors:
 the degree of orientation of the molecules and
 the degree of asymmetry of the molecules themselves.
If all the atoms in a molecule are arranged in a straight chain Fig. (a), the bond polarisabilities are
greatest along the line joining the atoms, then a high birefringence will be expected. However, the
actual molecules in fibers do not have this form and their birefringence will be reduced for two
reasons.
Firstly, most main chains have a zigzag form Fig. (b)
provided that the bonds diverge from the main axis
by less than about 55°, this still gives a positive
birefringence. Example, the value of the
birefringence of polyester fiber is 0.188.
Secondly, there will be side groups attached to the
main chain, as in Fig. (c), and these will have the
effect of providing atomic bonds at right angles to
the main axis. This will increase the value of n⊥ and
reduce the birefringence. In triacetate and acrylic
fibers, the side groups have a greater effect than the
main chain, and the birefringence is negative.
Example, the value of the birefringence of triacetate
fiber is -0.005. Mahmudul Hasan
Optical Properties
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Optical Properties
Optical orientation factor

We have seen that the difference in the refractive indices depends on the
relation between
 the direction of polarization of the light and
 the direction of alignment of the molecular chain.
It is therefore to be expected that the birefringence will be greatest when the
molecules are all lined up parallel to the fiber axis and that it will be zero when
they are randomly directed.
Hermanshas defined an optical orientation factor ‘f’ as the ratio of the
birefringence of the fiber to that of an ideal fiber in which the molecules are
perfectly oriented parallel to the fiber axis.
Strictly, the expression should be corrected for differences in density by
dividing each birefringence by the corresponding value of the density.
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Optical Properties
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Optical Properties
Retardation
In anisotropic crystals, the two rays of light produced by double refraction travel at
different velocities through the crystal. It takes the slow ray longer to traverse the
crystal than it takes the fast ray. The fast ray will have passed through the crystal and
traveled some distance ∆ beyond the crystal before the slow ray reaches the surface of
the crystal. This distance ∆ is called the retardation.
The retardation ∆ may be calculated as follows. If tS is the time in seconds that it takes
the slow ray to traverse the crystal and tF is the time it takes the fast ray to traverse the
crystal, then the distance ∆ that the fast ray travels beyond the crystal before the slow
ray emerges is
∆ = c (tS - tF) {units: m = (m/s)(s)} [S=vt]
Anisotropy
It is the property of a material which allows it to change or assume different properties
in different directions as opposed to isotropy. It can be defined as a difference, when
measured along different axes, in a material's physical or mechanical
properties (absorbance, refractive index, conductivity, tensile strength, etc.)
An example of anisotropy is light coming through a polarizer. Another is wood, which
is easier to split along its grain than across it.
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Optical Properties
Measurement of Refractive Indices
There are various methods for measuring the refractive index of textile fibers.
 The Becke line method (Heyn).
 Wavelength varying technique.
 fiber refractometer (Rapid).
 Interference technique (Faust).
The Becke line method

In this method, the fiber is immersed in a liquid and compared the refractive
index. If the index is same, then its boundary ceases to be visible. By trial and
error with a series of liquid mixtures of varying composition, the observation of
this effect may be used as a mean of measuring the refractive index of fiber. It is
necessary to use polarized light so that only one refractive index is concerned; it
gives the refractive index of the surface layer of the fiber.
If the refractive index of the fiber is different, a bright line can be seen at the
boundary between them. When the objective of the microscope is raised the
line moves towards the medium of higher refractive index.
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Optical Properties
Interference technique
In this technique both double beam and multiple – beam interference technique
used.
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Optical Properties
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Optical Properties
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Optical Properties
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Optical Properties
Cross fiber absorb more radiation than parallel fiber
When light passes through the two Dichroic fibers, there is a
greater total absorption if they are crossed than there is if they
are parallel.
If the fibers are crossed, the first fiber absorbs a large part of
one component and the second fiber absorbs a large part of the
perpendicular component. But if the fibers are parallel, the same
component is transmitted through both little absorption.
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Optical Properties
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Optical Properties
Reflection & luster
luster is an important aesthetic property of textile fiber or fabric. If
a beam of light falls on a surface, it may be reflected spectacularly
along the angle of reflection as fig (a); diffusely in varying intensity
over a hemi-sphere as in fig (b) or in a combination of both as in
fig(c).
The reflection may vary with the angle of incidence and with the
colour and polarization of light. The total visual appearance
resulting from these reflections determines the luster of the mtl.
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Optical Properties
luster depends on
Incident angle of light
If a fiber behaved as a perfect reflecting circular cylinder, it would reflect light as like fig (a) and fig (b).
It is clear that if the light falls across the fiber, it is reflected at various angles. Where as if it falls along
the fibers, here it reflect at constant angle.
Fineness of fiber
The fiber incorporated in a fabric, the greater is the number of individual reflecting surfaces per unit
area of the fabric. Therefore, fiber fineness affects the luster for the same types of smoothness and
regularity, the coarser fibers will have more luster than fiber one.
Irregularity of the fiber surface
Irregularity on the surface of the fiber and in its cross-sectional shape will cause light to be reflected in
various directions and will reduce the luster. It is essential that fiber should be uniform along its length.
For this reason, luster is greatest in regular filaments, such those of silk and the M.M.F.
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Optical Properties
fiber shape
fiber shape is an important factor for luster. The particular types of luster associated with nylon,
rayon and silk must be vary due to (the influence on) the pattern of light reflection of their
respective circular, serrated and triangular shape.
Presentation of small particles on fiber like TiO2 or Minimize the luster of M.M.F:
When a beam of light falls on the falls on the fiber, it is not only reflected but also transmitted. Some
of this transmitted light will reflect from the internal surfaces as fig (a).
If the fiber contains small particles e.g. TiO2 or Cavities as fig (b), these will scatter the transmitted
light at varying angles and cause it to emerge as particularly diffuse reflection.
TiO2 is used as dellustrants in MMF to reduce its luster.
Maturity of fiber:
If the maturity is high then the reflection will be high and with these the luster will also be high.
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6/11/2022

The main source of light on Earth is the Sun.

Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation within the portion of

Thus, the optical properties of fabrics need to be taken into

The process of transforming unpolarized light into polarized light is known as

Velocity of light in vacuum

Fiber density affects the refractive index of a fiber

Effect of moisture on the refractive index can be described by:

Fig: Principle refractive indices of fiber

Optical orientation factor

The Becke line method

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