The transfer and persistence of automotive carpet fibres on shoe soles

The transfer and persistence of automotive carpet fibres to shoe soles was investigated. It was found that fibres were transferred with the normal act ivity of a car passenger. Carpet type and shoe sole parameters were signifi cant determinants in the number of fibres that transferred. The average num ber of fibres was between about one and 33 per sole. Fibres that had been t ransferred after normal activity only persisted for a few minutes after wal king. A survey of the shoe soles of people about to leave their car showed that fibres were usually present. The majority of shoe soles surveyed had l ess than five fibres with the greatest number of fibres found being 14. The likelihood of finding a large number of fibres on such soles is rare. Fibr e composition of automotive carpets showed a high degree of variation. Grey was seen to be a common colour irrespective of the colour of the vehicle b ody.