Important Questions to Ask
When it comes to ultraviolet light (UV) protection for outdoor fabric applications, it is essential to understand that just because a fabric is black and contains carbon black, it does not mean that the product will last appropriately long for the application. There are a lot of factors that need to be addressed when manufacturing an outdoor product such as ground cover/weed barrier fabrics. So here are a few questions you need to ask your fabric supplier when discussing UV exposure and fabric longevity:
- What percentage of carbon black and/or U.V. stabilizer is added to the product?
- What type of carbon black is added?
- What is the particle size of the carbon black used?
- Does the carbon black and/or UV stabilizer package incorporate a high melt flow PP or PE carrier?
- How are the carbon black and/or UV stabilizer introduced in the extrusion process? Is it added manually, by a volumetric feeder or by gravimetric feeding systems?
- What performance testing does the manufacturer use to prove the fabric meets the required or published UV specification? Is the testing done by an accredited lab such as an A2LA accredited lab?
The Belton Difference
At Belton Industries, Inc. we use both carbon black and hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS). You have two sources of protection and those two types have a synergistic effect when used in combination. We also utilize outdoor grade carbon black which is of a smaller particle size providing greater surface coverage and better protection. The carbon black and HALS package is compounded with a high melt flow carrier for better and more uniform dispersion and distribution.
Belton also uses state of the art gravimetric feeders (also known as weigh feeders) which are the most accurate way to ensure proper dosing. We have a full-scale textile testing lab which is accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation. Every lot of yarn and fabric is tested against ASTM D-4355 to verify conformance with our published UV specification as shown in our ground cover fabric.
