UV Damage Webbing – Synthetic Materials overexposed to UV light degrades and weakens the fabric

Down here we all know about the harsh affects of UV damage! Did you know when synthetic material is overexposed to UV light it degrades it by breaking down the molecular bonds in the fibre structure, thus weakening the fabric?

During Waitangi weekend Nat collected a piece of unknown UV damaged webbing on the route up to Mt Aspiring and thought we could give it a test. The type of webbing is unknown as well as the length of exposure. Nat and Grant conducted a static test of the length of webbing and produced a result of 6.05kn. Based on similar products it had lost approximately 9kn. The links below have a couple of videos of the webbing breaking in the test and looking closer at the webbing after it failed.

Unfortunately, there’s no SPF lotion to lather onto your synthetic webbing; so here are some signs that your synthetic webbing has been damaged by the sun:

• Fading colour is a clear sign of UV damage. If a sling was originally orange and now it’s a pale peach, it’s time to take it out of service.
• Stiffness, lack of pliability or a fuzzy texture along the length of the sling can signify severe UV degradation.
• Inspect the structural integrity by snapping the sling against a hard surface. If you see a lot of fibre dust, you know the sling has been damaged by UV degradation.
• Have a think about the type of webbing being used and the exposure factor. Is Nylon, Polyester or Dyneema the way to go? We are happy to help with advice.

UV Damage Webbing Testing Results: