Abstract
The photodegradation of unprotected bright nylon-6 fiber by exposure to daylight and in the fadeometer has been studied. The degradation has been found to be caused by random scission of the polymer chain. Although the degrada tion produces appreciable changes in the tensile strength and viscosity average molecular weight of the nylon-6 fiber, the polymer chain itself is not attacked appreciably as substantiated by infrared measurements. A possible mechanism for the photodegradative breakdown of nylon-6 fiber so far as the formation of nonvolatile water-soluble products is concerned is postulated and substantiated by identifying the degradative products obtained. The efficacy of a selected uv absorber in reducing the photodegradation of nylon-6 fiber has also been studied.
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