The Oxidation of Cellulose by Ozone in Small Concentrations

Abstract

Laboratory experiments show that ozone in amounts which may occur in air at the earth's surface (up to 0.06 part per million) deteriorates cotton textiles when they are wet. The deterioration is slight in comparison with that from other elements of "weathering," such as light, heat, wetting and drying, and microorganisms. Fifty days of exposure to air containing 0.02 to 0.06 part of ozone per million was required to reduce the breaking strength of wet print cloth 20% and increase the fluidity in cuprammonium solution from 8 to 16 rhes. When exposed dry, the cloth underwent little or no change in these characteristics. An increase in concentra tion of ozone led to an increase in the deterioration of the cellulose.