Sorption and reaction of NO₂ gas to fabrics and to their finishing agents were investigated for the study of mechanism of yellowing of fabrics by oxides gas under storage conditions. Experiments were carried out determining the sorption and reaction of NO₂ gas with and without antioxidant agent or fluorescent brightener, as well as measuring the reflection spectra and the colors of the yellowed fabrics. The rate and degree of sorption of NO₂ to nylon fabrics measured by sorption experiment using a batch sorption vessel found to be relatively quick and remarkable, which was, especially, striking in the case that the fabrics was wet.
　The refraction spectra of the yellowed fabrics solely caused by the NO₂ sorption could be distinguished to that of the fabrics caused by the NO₂ reaction with fabrics. NO₂ gas reduced the quantum yield of fluorescent brightener on the fabrics, which resulted the depression of the fluorescence of the fabrics, and hence the yellow of the fabrics might be revealed. It was also found that NO₂ gas remarkably yellowed antioxidant (BHT) treated fabrics under long term storage. BHT and the relative oxidized derivatives, which is responsible for yellowing of the fabrics, were detected in polypropylene packing films by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.16/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE