A Study of the Weathering Character istics of Cotton Fabrics Containing Inorganic Compounds

Abstract

A study has been made of the effect of outdoor weathering on unbleached and bleached cotton duck treated with (1) copper carbonate and chromic oxide. (2) chromic oxide aftertreated with copper naphthenate and with copper 8-hydroxyquinolinolate, and (3) chromium naphthenate mixed with copper naphthenate and copper 8-hydroxyquinolinolate respectively: and unbleached cotton sheeting treated with a mixture of copper carbonate and chromic oxide. The treatments were applied at two levels of copper for each compound and the chromium added so as to give ratios of Cr2O3:CuO at. above, and below unity. The optimum ratio of approximately 1, found in the eartier work. was confirmed for all of the above mixtures of copper and chromium Mixtures of copper and chromium in inorganic form seem to afford greater protection than organic mixtures or mixtures of inorganic chromium and organic copper. Mixtures of chromic oxide and copper naphthenate were nearly as effective as the inorganic mixtures due. presumably. to the high degree of hydrolysis of the copper naphthenate. Copper 8-hydroxyquinolinolate appears to be more effective when used in conjunction with chromium naphthenate. The presence of noncellulosic material enhances the protective effect afforded by these mixtures as does also an increase in fabric weight.