A Study of the Spectral Distributions of Sun-Sky and Xenon-Arc Radiation in Relation to the Degradation of Some Textile Yarns

Abstract

The effects of xenon-arc radiation, using an Atlas Weather-Ometer and a clear glass pyrex filter system, on the breaking strength, extension-to-break, and the energy-to-break for several nylon, polyester, and polyester/cotton yarns were compared to these of outdoor exposure behind window glass. Both types of exposure resulted in similar, related rates of loss for these properties for all yarns. Lamp age in the Weather-Ometer intluenced degradation rates in some cases. All nylon yarns degraded slowly during Weather-Ometer exposure and rapidly outdoors behind window-glass, in com parison to polyester, while the polyester/cotton yarns degraded at similar rates in both locations. Yarn-denier variation and the presence of an optical, brightener had no detectable effect on degradation rates. Sensitization by anatase in nylon and polyester yarns occurred during outdoor exposure, but not during Weather-Ometer exposure.