Morphology and Mechanical Property of Nylon 6 Fibers in the Flags Exposed on the Route between Syowa Station and Dome Fuji in the Antarctic

Abstract

Degradation of fibers in the flags as well as color fading of the flags exposed in the Antarctic was investigated as one of indirect methods to take care of health for a number of scientists who study scientific works in out-door during the summer season. Because, it is anxious that the disruption of an ozone layer by freon-gas causes serious health impediments such as the occurrence of skin cancer and the denaturation of a gene, which endangers the life of human.The flags were set on the route between Syowa Station and Dome Fuji in the Antarctic for one year from the beginning of December 1994 to the end of November 1995. The original fibers with a circular cross section showed flat and smooth surface, while the fibers within the flag exposed on the route showed a weave-like shape by the disappearance of the skin parts. Such violent disruption was not observed for the flags exposed under mild weather in Japan. Because the average irradiation of an ultraviolet ray at the Antarctic as reported is about twice as that at Nishinomiya City observed as an example of mild weather in Japan.