Coffee stains

A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. They are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two dissimilar materials. Accidental staining may make materials appear used, degraded or permanently unclean. Intentional staining is used in biochemical research and for artistic effect, such as wood staining, rust staining and stained glass.

Types

There can be intentional stains (such as wood stains or paint),[1] indicative stains (such as food coloring dye, or adding a substance to make bacteria visible under a microscope),[2] natural stains (such as rust on iron or a patina on bronze),[3] and accidental stains such as ketchup and synthetic oil on clothing.

Different types of material can be stained by different substances, and stain resistance is an important characteristic in modern textile engineering.[citation needed]

Stained navy waistcoat
From a copy of "Decorative Patterns of the Ancient world," by Sir Flinders Petrie.[4]

Formation

The primary method of stain formation is surface stains, where the staining substance is spilled out onto the surface or material and is trapped in the fibers, pores, indentations, or other capillary structures on the surface.[1] The material that is trapped coats the underlying material, and the stain reflects backlight according to its own color. Applying paint, spilled food, and wood stains are of this nature.[5]

A secondary method of stain involves a chemical or molecular reaction between the material and the staining material. Many types of natural stains fall into this category.[citation needed]

Finally, there can also be molecular attraction between the material and the staining material, involving being held in a covalent bond and showing the color of the bound substance.[6]

Properties

In many cases, stains are affected by heat and may become reactive enough to bond with the underlying material. Applied heat, such as from ironing, dry cleaning or sunlight, can cause a chemical reaction on an otherwise removable stain, turning it into a chemical.

Removal

Various laundry techniques exist to attempt to remove or reduce existing stains. Stain remover is an important type of chemical in laundry detergents and some removers are formulated to be applied directly onto stains. The removal of some stains require other chemicals or special techniques. Use of an inappropriate technique could make permanent an otherwise removable stain or cause unwanted discoloration of the clothing.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Bob Flexner (1999). "Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish". Reader's Digest: 121. ISBN 978-0-7621-0191-7.
  2. ^ George Clark, James W. Bartholomew (1981). Staining Procedures Used by the Biological Stain Commission: Published for the Biological Stain Commission. Williams & Wilkins. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-0-683-01707-6.
  3. ^ L. William Zahner (1997). Architectural Metals: A Guide to Selection, Specification, and Performance. Wiley. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-471-04506-9.
  4. ^ "Decorative patterns of the Ancient World : Flinders, Petrie : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  5. ^ NACE International (1987). Materials Performance. Vol. 26. National Association of Corrosion Engineers. p. 33.
  6. ^ Max Alth, Simon Alth (1977). The Stain Removal Handbook. Hawthorn Books. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-8015-7071-1.
  7. ^ Solutions for Clothing and Laundry Stain Removal

Further reading

External links

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