Improvement of Accelerated Aging Methods for Coated Fabrics

A study was made by the Reasearch Directorate, Weapons Laboratory at Rock Island to update and standardize methods and equipment for use in the evaluation of accelerated deterioration of coated fabrics. The coated fabrics were exposed to accelerated and natural weathering. The twelve-month exposures at the Panama open-sunlight site resulted in the most severe deterioration. Short-term aging tests with the use of a carbon-arc Weather-Ometer, Fade-Ometer, and air-circulating oven inaccurately predicted coated-fabric deterioration rates encountered under hot - wet climatic conditions. (Author)