Phototendering is the process by which organic fibres and

textiles Textile is an Hyponymy and hypernymy, umbrella term that includes various Fiber, fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, Staple (textiles)#Filament fiber, filaments, Thread (yarn), threads, and different types of #Fabric, fabric. ...

lose strength and flexibility due to exposure to sunlight. The

ultraviolet Ultraviolet radiation, also known as simply UV, is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths of 10–400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight and constitutes about 10% of ...

component of the sun's spectrum affects fibres, causing chain degradation and, hence, loss of strength. Colour fade is a common problem in phototendering.

UV degradation

The rate of deterioration is also affected by

pigments A pigment is a powder used to add or alter color or change visual appearance. Pigments are completely or nearly solubility, insoluble and reactivity (chemistry), chemically unreactive in water or another medium; in contrast, dyes are colored sub ...

and

dyes Juan de Guillebon, better known by his stage name DyE, is a French musician. He is known for the music video of the single "Fantasy (DyE song), Fantasy" from his first album ''Taki 183 (album), Taki 183''. This video became popular, attracting ...

present in the textiles. Pigments can also be affected, generally fading after UVA and UVB radiation exposure. Great care is needed to preserve museum artefacts from the harmful effects of UV light, which can also be present in fluorescent lamps, such as ancient textiles. Paintings such as watercolours need protection from sunlight to preserve the original colours. Many synthetic

polymers A polymer () is a substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their broad spectrum of properties, b ...

are also degraded by UV light, and

polypropylene Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer Propene, propylene. Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefin ...

is especially susceptible. As a result, UV stabilisers are added to many

thermoplastics A thermoplastic, or thermosoftening plastic, is any plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight. The polymer chains as ...

. Ultraviolet absorbers such as

carbon black Carbon black (with subtypes acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black and thermal black) is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of coal tar, vegetable matter, or petroleum products, including fuel oil, fluid cataly ...

are also effective in protecting products against UV degradation. Failedrope1

References

{{Reflist

External links

Patent for Protection of Fibres from Phototendering
Mechanical failure

UV degradation

See also

References

External links