Microbial damage to raw cotton is a common problem in many parts of the world, and tests currently available to identify and quantify it are reviewed and evaluated. These tests include cuprammonium hydroxide fluidity tests, pH determinations, re ducing sugar determinations, microscopic techniques, and staining methods. The tests have been used to evaluate possible microbial damage to cotton from two Australian growing seasons. Between-laboratory variations in the use of these methods are dis cussed. Shadecloth and overhead sprinklers are used in field plots to simulate adverse weather conditions and promote microbial damage. The effect of microbial damage on the color difference between dyed lots is also determined.
Wool that has been optically whitened with fluorescent whitening agents is susceptible to photoyellowing at a much accelerated rate compared to unwhitened wool. This effect is especially noticeable when the wool is exposed in the presence of moisture (the "wet" state). Topical applications of several antioxidants and singlet oxygen quenchers applied to fluorescently whitened wool fabric have been evaluated with regard to their effect on "wet" and "dry" exposures to ultraviolet radiation. A com pound from the sulfide class of antioxidants was most effective for wet exposures. This effect was moisture related. A hindered phenol antioxidant had the greatest effect on dry exposures. A nickel chelate compound was equally effective for both wet and dry states. The decrease in the tryptophan content of wet exposed fabric was related to the degree of yellowing that developed in the fabric.
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