UV radiation
UV radiation is a natural part of sunlight and they have an effect on almost all textile materials used in making technical textiles. UV radiation can cause material degradation, which in turn weakens the basic elements - fibre or film.
UV intensity is variable, and depends largely on geography. The intensity of UV radiation is measured in kLy (kilo-Langley), a unit of which represents how much UV radiation energy falls on a cm2 per year. The generalised map shows the intensity of UV radiation.
UV radiation has its greatest effect on polypropylene. This material, which forms the basis of many materials, must be protected from the affects of UV. This is done with the help of special additives, known as stabilisers. The stabilised polypropylene used against the affects of UV radiation is modified according to the intensity of UV radiation in different areas.
For example, a polypropylene rope stabilised for 100kLy (the norm for Central Europe) should not lose more than 50% of its strength after one year. In order to protect against significant strength loss, it is important to choose a stabilisation that is higher than the rate of UV radiation intensity of a given area.
It is generally known that UV radiation has the least influence on polyester. Long-term measurements and testing of our production - ropes made of various materials - have led us to some interesting results: the smallest amount of strength loss was experienced with multifilament polypropylene MULTITEX, fibres, which we regularly stabilised at 80-100kLy. See influence of UV radiation on the strength of textile materials and half-life disintegration.
We try to place ropes made of MULTITEX fibres wherever there is long-term UV intensity - work and safety netting, electric fencing ropes, ropes used at children's' playgrounds, and the like.
