A method has been developed for obtaining the infrared spectra of the short staple fibers of either a natural or synthetic fiber. The method does not require cutting, grinding, or sifting the fibers or the addition of any extrageous material. Sample preparation involves shaping a thin layer of parallel fibers under pressures comparable to those used in preparing KBr disks. The spectra obtained with this method are as good or better than the spectra obtained with other techniques. The only fiber for which satisfactory spectra could not be obtained was nylon.
