Tensile strength of Nylon netting subjected to various concentrations of disinfecting chemicals

This paper presents a study of traditional netting materials subjected to disinfecting chemicals during fish farming and treatment of net cages. A series of tests were performed in order to study the effect of various concentrations of disinfecting chemicals on the tensile strength of Raschel knitted Nylon netting materials. Simulated spill of diluted hydrogen peroxide (HP) to the jump fence during de-lousing did not affect the strength of the applied new and used knotless nylon netting samples. Hydrogen peroxide reacted with biofouling forming gas bubbles, but this did not result in reduced netting strength. The performed tests did not indicate any effect on netting strength from a simulated single, traditional bath disinfection as performed at service stations applying the disinfectant Aqua Des (AD) containing peracetic acid (PAA). However, increasing the AD concentration from 1 to 10% resulted in a strength reduction of 3–6%. Simulated spill of concentrated AD on the jump fence of a net with copper coating residuals resulted in a severe reduction in strength of 45%. This strength loss was probably a consequence of chemical reaction between copper and Aqua Des, and uncoated netting did not experience any loss in strength subjected to the same chemical exposure. These findings from application of AD should also apply to other PAA disinfection chemicals with trade names as, for example, Perfectoxid and Addi Aqua.