Degradation and Tests

The development of methods and tests for preserving natural textile fibers is surveyed. The effect of the environment in which the textiles are stored or exposed, chemical, physical, and biological agents responsible for their degradation, and test methods for evaluating their performance and extent of damage are discussed. Emphasis is on cotton, wool, and silk, with selected references on other cellulosic fibers such as jute and linen. 

These degradation and testing procedures provide a standard form of measurement for accessing the stability of the MEA, the electrocatalyst, and the catalyst support. The metrics do not give an accurate measure of the lifetimes that the MEA would experience in reality, but rather give a comparative measure between different catalysts across different research laboratories. 

This chapter aims to present a coherent treatment of the fundamental aspects of the science of polymer stabilization technology. The state-of-the-art is discussed with particular emphasis on recent developments and progress made in leading research laboratories. Several examples are used to illustrate the underlying mechanistic basis for the modes of action of a wide selection of antioxidants and stabilizers. The closely related subjects of polymer degradation and test methods used to evaluate oxidation, processing, end use and environmental stabilities should be consulted elsewhere for a more integrated view of polymer stabilization. 

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