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Browning from Jute BackingThis was one of my earlier reports and was written for a water damage contractor.THE CARPET COLOR: Campaign CONSTRUCTION: Tufted Cut Loop STYLE: Saxony Plush BACK SYSTEM: Conventional Tufted PRIMARY BACKING: Jute SECONDARY BACKING: Jute THE INSTALLATION TYPE OF INSTALLATION: Residential METHOD: Stretch-In CUSHION: Rebond SUBFLOOR: hardwood AREA INSTALLED: Livingroom, Hallway, Two Bedrooms USE & MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION ADULTS: 2 CHILDREN: 0 PETS: 1 TYPE OF PET(s): Dog(s) VACUUM TYPE: Top-Fill Upright FREQUENCY: Weekly ENTRY MATS: Yes CONDITION of TEXTILE: Very Good SOIL: None Noticeable HEATING TYPE: Central Force Air Gas COOLING TYPE: None CLEANING: Professional METHOD: Truckmount Steam TYPE OF CHEMICAL: Acidic Rinsing Agent PROBLEM REPORTED The carpet has reportedly yellowed. THE REPORT Geographical Background Information This is a free standing house is located in a residential neighborhood in the inland southeast corner of Los Angeles County. The house is in good condition. The maintenance is very good. THE CLAIM HISTORY The claimant hired the commissioner to perform water restoration after a clean water line going to the ice maker in the refrigerator broke. The claimant’s kitchen vinyl floor was replaced as a result of this restoration. The carpet reportedly had a slight water damage only at its edge. The reported drying time was one week. After one week the claimant noticed the yellowing condition. Two more corrective cleanings were done, one week after one another. The discoloring was not corrected to the claimant’s satisfaction. DETAILED PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM The discoloring is more apparent in bright light. It’s hue is brown. Along the front wall of the living room and along the front entrance it has a slight defined edge. Away from the wall the discoloring does not have a well defined edge. The depth of the problem is primarily on the tips of the fibers. The discoloring is along the edges of the walls, in open areas, and in areas where solid objects were located before the problem was reported. FIELD TESTING An ultra-violet light was shone throughout the installation. This tool draws a yellow reflection from most urine stains and a blue or lavender reflection from detergents with optical brightening agents. Seam sealers are used to tightly bond carpet edges together and to seal the trimmed edge from fraying. The result of this test was that there was no reflection any where on the carpet. Numerous moisture tests were performed using a Delmhorst Moisture Sensor. This test would indicate the presence of moisture in the area that was being tested. It is possible for water to be locked-up in salt compounds from residue like urine and other compounds long after the affected area has dried. Any recent or previous over-wetting of the carpet could also be found in the latex backing of a carpet with this device. The results of these tests recorded slight moisture readings in front of the entrance going into the kitchen and modest reading in front of the sofa. A modest reading would be the equivalent of the moisture on dry human skin. All other areas were very dry. A 3% hydrogen peroxide solution was applied to the affected area. This product was applied to a towel and the towel was blotted on to the affected area. This strength of peroxide is generally not strong enough to adversely affect the dyes of most textile fabrics by itself. However, it is effective on a variety of pigment sign including but not limited to coffee, tea, urine and, cellulose brown typical of that found in cotton and wool. The result of this test was the spot disappeared. THE ISSUE The question is have been asked to address is: what has caused the carpet to yellow? CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM Yellowing occur when: 1. excessive alkalinity remains in contact with the sulfonated phenol or acid dye blocker on Stain Resist carpet. 2. Butylated Hydroxy Toluene known as BHT, mixes with olefin and/or sulfonated phenol or acid dye blocker. 3. sulfonated phenol or acid dye blocker have been affected by ultra violet light. 4. a foreign substance has been spilled on the carpet that contains a pigment such as in the case of pet urine stains. 5. light reflection from sunlight creates a prism effect on light colored carpet. 6. there is a loss of color from some type of bleaching agent 7. urine or other pigmented stained materials has affected the carpet. 8. When lignin oil from jute wicks from the carpet backing INDUSTRY STANDARDS The Standard for Carpet Cleaning S001-1994 is published by the INSTITUTE OF INSPECTIONS, CLEANING and RESTORATION CERTIFICATION at the recommendation of the FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. These service standards are for professional cleaning and are recognized by nearly all carpet mills and carpet cleaning associations. browning - A yellow, red or brownish discoloration formed when cellulose, particularly jute with a high lignin content (24%), is degraded in the presence of moisture. Browning is aggravated by age, alkalinity, and prolonged drying. yellowing - A carpet condition that result from one of several possible sources, to include: dye loss, fume fading, general soiling, oil tracking, oxidation, stain-resist degradation, etc. Browning is defined in the Floor Covering Dictionary as A yellow, red or brownish discoloration formed when cellulose, particularly jute with a high (24%) lignin content, is degraded in the presence of moisture. It results from overwetting cellulose, especially with hot alkaline solutions for prolonged periods (i.e., overwetting during cleaning followed by improper drying). Dissolved cellulosic components (lignin, betaglucose) wick to the surface of carpet face yarns where they remain when their water-base carrier evaporates. Browning is usually corrected with mild solutions or acetic or citric acid, or a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%). Jute is Defined in the floor Covering Dictionary as: A natural cellulosic fiber made from certain plants of the linden family which grow in warm climates such as found in India and Bangladesh. Jute yarns are used for woven carpet construction (backing) yarns and twine. Woven jute fabrics are used in tufted carpet as primary and secondary carpet backings. The latter are similar to burlap fabric commonly used for carpet warp and sewn burlap bags. Is often laminated onto the back of tufted carpet for added dimensional stability. There is a condition that is referred to as WICKING. It is defined in the Flooring Covering Dictionary as "Dispersing or spreading of moisture or liquid through a given area, vertically or horizontally; capillary action in material." A spot may appear after cleaning if a substance has penetrated through the carpet back. This substance would then act as a bridge between the face yarns and polypropylene backing on the underside of the carpet. INSPECTOR'S ANALYSIS The discoloring was obvious when the jute was discovered. The real question here should be, why did the carpet stay wet for a week. Even with improper cleaning procedure the carpet would have probably dried in three or four days. The only suggestion of the culprit would be that the subfloor had trapped a lot of water. CONCLUSION The carpet in question has yellowed or browned due to jute wicking from the carpet backing. The wicking was due to improper drying after cleaning. This conclusion was based upon the hydrogen peroxide test and the back ground information on the drying time. RECOMMENDATIONS This problem is often correctable with a post spray of 3% hydrogen peroxide. |