Effect of Noncellulosic Material on the Actinic Degradation of Cotton Fabric

Abstract

Cotton duck samples were treated with derivatives of salicylaldehyde or with copper complexes of these derivatives, and were exposed in a carbon-arc Weather-Ometer. The effectiveness of the treatments in reducing the rate of photo-induced depolymerization of cotton cellulose has been related to (a) the volatility of the treating compounds and complexes, (b) the ability of the compounds to form intramolecular, six-member chelate rings; and (c) the absorption of the treating materials in the spectral region of most intense emmission from the carbon-arc light source. Comparison with oxine and copper oxinate has been made. '