Behavior of Polymer Materials Exposed to Aging in the Swimming Pool: Focus on Properties That Assure Comfort and Durability

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Ivana Salopek Čubrić
• Author: Goran Čubrić
• Author: Marija Potočić Matković
• Collaboration: TEMPO
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Textile Technology
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: TECHNICAL SCIENCES; Textile Technology; Textile-Mechanical Engineering

Abstract (english)

The degradation of polyamide (PA) and polyester (PES) polymers is under intense study due to growing concerns about the accumulation of plastics in soils and oceans. Previous studies confirm that ageing degrades PA and PES at the molecular level. However, researchers have not addressed the development of protocols for aging textile materials in swimming pools, and few data are available on the effects of aging on comfort and durability. This research addresses the development of the aging protocol for PA and PES swimwear materials, its implementation, and the evaluation of properties that assure comfort and durability after specific periods of exposure. The tests include microscopic analysis, tensile tests, determination of fluid transport phases and drying period. The results revealed changes in the surface of the material in terms of fibrillation (more pronounced after outdoor aging). There is a positive correlation between the exposure duration and the breaking force (R2 ranges from 0.85 to 0.98), with a stronger correlation for the PA materials. The decrease in breaking force due to aging is up to 40%, indicating significantly reduced durability. The change in breaking force follows the changes in mass (R2 = 0.867). In terms of comfort assurance, outdoor aging of materials should have a greater negative impact than indoor ageing.

• Keywords (english): aging; polyester; polyamide; elastane; yarn; swimming pool water; tensile properties; microscopy; knitted fabric; drying
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Polymers
• Numbering: vol. 13, no. 15, pp. 1-19, 2414
• e-ISSN: 2073-4360
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13152414
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:201:108543
• Publication: 2021-06-24
• Project: Number: HRZZ-2020-02-5041; Title (croatian): Tekstilni materijali za povećanu udobnost u sportu; Acronym: TEMPO; Leader: Ivana Salopek Čubrić; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funding stream: HRZZ
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/15/2414
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-04-05 14:32:31