ExperimentICS17MaroM

If a material is treated with fabric softener, then it will burn in a shorter amount of time than an untreated sample of the same material because chemicals within the fabric softener solution will act as a catalyst in terms of flammability.
 * Hypothesis:**


 * Procedure:**
 * 1) First, use the lighter to catch the first material on fire.
 * 2) Next, record the time using the timer from the first material along with any other data. Also, make sure to extinguish the fire with water if there is still a flame or sparks.
 * 3) Do the same things for the two materials leftover.
 * 4) After testing the non-treated materials, wash more samples of the same materials with the first brand of fabric softener.
 * 5) Do that step for the two other fabric softeners and more of the same type of material.
 * 6) Repeatedly, put on the same tests using the newly treated material. Record time and data.


 * Materials:**
 * Fabric: Polyester, Cotton, Microfiber (10 cm by 10 cm squares)
 * Lighter
 * Fabric Softener: 3 brands
 * Washing/Drying machine
 * Timer
 * Water (extinguish fire)
 * Camera
 * Tile (surface for experiment)

//Consumer Reports Magazine// had a study published that was about the flammability of materials with fabric softener on them. The results showed that fabric does tend to burn more severely after have been washed with fabric softener. However, this study used fleece and terrycloth, and for these two fabrics, they found that using fabric softener led to them burning six or seven times faster than untreated material. The reason that that study came about in the first place was due to a woman who accidentally dropped a cigarette on her dressing gown. She had previously washed the gown with fabric softener and it caught on fire, burning her to death. For the reason that fleece and terrycloth burned very easily, those materials are not accepted to use for baby's garments. The actual purpose of fabric softener is to coat the surface of a material with chemical compounds, causing the fibers in the material to "stand up" so that the material feels softer and fluffier. Fabric softener overuse may cause material to become more flammable. Multiple deaths have been associated with this. About 3,000 deaths per year involve the ignition of clothing. Based on my study, one could conclude that these deaths were far more likely to happen with the use of fabric softener.
 * Background Research:**