Abstract
The oxyluminescence method was applied to fabric and subjected to a constant heating rate in air. Compared with conventional thermogravimetry, the luminescence was observed in a temperature region that is about 150°C lower than conventional standards. This temperature region corresponds to the early stage of oxidation and degradation of the selected materials. This method was used on each silk sample according to the apparent activated energy distribution, spectrum of luminescence and contrast with IR absorption spectrum. After thorough analysis, it was determined that the oxyluminescence is particularly useful in investigating the oxidation and degradation processes of polymeric materials, especially when compared with conventional method such as TGA and FT-IR.
