Mildew Resistance of Paper and Paperboard

Paper products often end up in storage, but one can not be sure of the future humidity in an area that will be used for long term storage. Therefore, it is important to know that the paper used to store items or to document events is durable when it is exposed to moisture. Damp atmospheres that are combined with soil are beds of microbial growth which may in turn decrease the longevity of a paper product’s life, so it is important to produce paper that can withstand the effects of microbes and moisture over time.

Following ASTM testing protocols, the scientists at Clean Air Labs have the ability to provide feedback to paper manufacturers indicating the microbial resistance of their product. This can be done in several different ways, through direct contact or through exposure to air that is known to contain a moisture-loving microbe. After incubation the paper materials are compared to a control allowing the various degrees of degradation to be reported.

A paper products resistance to soil burial can also be tested. Working in a laboratory, scientists have the ability to control the conditions in which the paper is buried. This means that things like pH, temperature, and humidity can be controlled allowing the damaging conditions to be maximized.

Exposure to this testing procedure lasts for two weeks after which the paper samples are dried and tested for their tensile breaking strength. This information can then be averaged allowing for individual statistical comparison of the samples which can determine a products variance from the normal degradation rate.

Mildew and Rot Resistance of Textile Material

Mildew and rot resistance is very important in the manufacturing of textiles. Consumers desire products that will withstand microbial growth due to heat, humidity, and moisture. Textiles are made for many different purposes so it is extremely important that they be able to survive the outdoors with exposure to rain and dirt as well as indoors in a controlled atmosphere.

At Clean Air Labs we can test a textile’s strength. We also have the ability to test fungicides or weatherproofing agents that may be added to a particular textile. Through a battery of AATCC tests, tensile strength and efficacy of fungicides can be ascertained. Here textiles are exposed to burial, direct exposure to mold, and the extreme conditions of the humidity jar.

Each test reflects the limits of the textile and can help determine its ideal use. For marketed textiles that are undergoing improvements, this protocol can be specifically designed to meet the needs of the client.

Resistance of Building Materials to Microbial Growth

Potential homeowners want the security of knowing that their future investment is safe from the deterioration caused by microbial growth due to dirt and water damage; however, building materials are not naturally immune to microbial growth. Therefore agents must be created that will provide protection to these materials and thus to the home itself.

In our ASTM Chambers, we can study the biocidal properties of new chemical surface coatings that are made specifically for home use. At Clean Air Labs, we cover materials such as OEB, drywall, and plywood with the newest biocidal products. Then we expose them to the conditions in which the microbes love to grow and later look to see what happens. Based on the microbial growth on the various building materials, we let manufactures know the efficacy of their biocide for each of the materials tested. By doing this, a biocide can be labeled as a highly effective microbial deterrent, as a deterrent for a specific building material, or noted as an ineffective microbial deterrent.

Polymeric Resistance to Microbial Staining

Synthetic polymeric solids may be susceptible to staining after continuous exposure to microbes; so many manufacturers add antimicrobial agents to these solids as a stain preventative. By doing this, their products look nicer and appear to have a longer life span to consumers.

At Clean Air Labs, we have the ability to test the performance of the different antimicrobials that can be added to synthetic polymeric solids to prevent staining. This is done by placing the antimicrobial coated solid directly in contact with microbes that are know to produce high amounts of colored pigmentation. After extended contact, the solid is evaluated and the stain resisting effects of the antimicrobial agent can be reported as effective or ineffective.

Polymeric Resistance to Microbial Growth

Certain synthetic polymeric materials are often used to encapsulate building materials. These materials may contain components that make them susceptible to microbial attack. This can lead to a wide array of problems, because continual microbial growth may break down the synthetic polymeric material and begin to affect the internal materials that the polymer was designed to protect.

Let Clean Air Labs test your materials in order to quantify their ability to sustain microbial growth. We can also to determine how microbial growth affects the protected materials’ physical, optical, and electrical properties. Be secure in your materials by determining their resistance level to growth so that their performance will remain optimum even after exposure to the extreme weather conditions that cause water damage. Damp areas are a bed for microbial growth.