Microbial deterioration studies of military cotton and leather based uniforms

Abstract

Microbial deterioration studies on selected cotton based uniforms were carried out using test-fungi earlier  isolated from the uniforms stored in the Military Warehouses. These fungi includes, Aspergillus nigar, A.  fumigatus, C. gwbosum, C. thermophile, Var.coprohile, B. stolonifer and S. pulverulentum. The deteriorative assessment carried out include Visual Assessment, Microscopic and Agar Plate Assessment, Soil Burial Assessment and Decay Studies under which the tensile strength, weight loss measurement swelling test, Brilliant blue test and Methylne blue tests were carried out. The results showed that the materials were in different stages of deterioration, colourations, stains, reduction in tensile strength and loss of weight. The implications of the findings are discussed.