Tensile strength deterioration of PVC coated PET woven fabrics under single and multiplied artificial weathering impacts and cyclic loading

Abstract

This paper investigates the tensile strength degradation of architectural PVC coated PET woven fabrics exposed to single and combined artificial weathering impacts and cyclic loading. The uniaxial tensile strength sensitivity to different weathering stressors such as UV light, humidity, and temperature plus cyclic loading was determined. Furthermore, the physicochemical changes were traced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal the key role of photodegradation on the tensile strength deterioration of PET yarns, while incorporation of cyclic loading cannot exacerbate this degradation rate remarkably. Weathering impacts decrease the stiffness (Esecant) either individually or collectively while a single impact of humidity or temperature leads to comparably low changes of the tensile strength. Strength modification factors based on the draft standard prCEN/TS 19102:2022-05 have been calculated covering all surveyed artificial weathering test results. The presented study provides a better understanding of the weathering performance of PET-PVC fabrics under various attacks.