OIL DAMAGE TO COTTON TENTING MATERIALS

The effect of weathering on white and brown (Mineral Khaki) cotton duck tenting materials treated with a variety of oils has been investigated. Vegetable oils have the greatest deteriorating action. Cottonseed oil has been shown to produce the greatest weakening effect, giving tensile strength losses of 73% during a 240-day exposure. Mineral oil exerts only a moderate damaging effect. It is possible that the tensile strength losses are proportional to the iodine values but this has not been definitely established. Mineral Khaki has a very definite weather-proofing and oil resisting action when impregnated in cotton.