ULTRAVIOLET PROTECTION

The sunlight is essential for life and is important for human health, as the body needs it to
form Vitamin-D, enhance circulation of blood, invigorate the metabolism and improve resistance
to various pathogens. At the same time, ultraviolet rays contained in sunlight pose a major stress
and risk potential for the skin, as they may cause skin cancer, skin burning, aging, wrinkling,
inflations, sunburn etc. Dermatologists and anti-cancer organizations therefore warn against
excessive exposure of the sun and call for prevention by means of suitable clothing and sun
protective textiles. This is particularly important for children and for the people who spend a lot of
time outdoors in their line of work, such as construction workers, road workers or gardeners to use
textile for sun protection. The risks posed by ultraviolet radiation have become more dangerous in
recent years as the whole world is suffering from all kinds of pollution which is leading to the
ozone layer depletion. So the protect peoples from harmful UV radiations, clothing has the ability
to protect the skin from incident solar radiation because the fabric from which it is made can
reflect, absorb and scatter solar wavelengths. Each fabric must be tested to determine its ability to
protect from solar radiation, as this cannot be known from visual observation nor calculated from
descriptions of the fabric’s composition and structure. To determine this so called Ultraviolet
Protection Factor (UPF), special test standards and methods are required as offered by different
associations. Care labeling similar to fabric and garment care labels has been developed for UV
protection, and standard procedures have been established for the measurement, calculation,
labeling methods and comparison of label values.

ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
reaches the earth is composed of 66%
The sun emits a range of energy known
infrared light, 32% visible light & 2%
as electromagnetic spectrum. The
ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light is
various forms of energy or radiations are
defined as the electromagnetic radiation
classified according to the wavelength.
in the spectral region between 180nm to
These emissions are characterized by
400nm. The three categories of
their wavelength, expressed in
ultraviolet radiation are UV-A, UV-B &
nanometer (1 nm= 10-9 m). The
UV-C.
radiations with the shorter wavelength
are more energetic. Sunlight that
 • UV-A rays (320-400 nm) are least
powerful of the UV rays, but they
present all the year and can
penetrate windows and clouds.
They penetrate more deeply into
the skin and contribute
premature aging of the skin and
skin cancers.
• UV-B rays (280-320 nm) are most
harmful and potentially harmful
form of radiation. It is most
common cause of sunburn, aging,
wrinkling and skin cancer. UVB is
particularly strong at the equator,
at high elevation or during the
summer.
• UV-C rays (200-280 nm) are the
shortest and the most powerful of
the UV rays. UV-C rays are most
likely to cause skin cancer if it
reaches the skin. Most of the UV-C
radiations are blocked by the
ozone layer in our atmosphere.
The order of potency is UVC>UVB>UVA
UV PROTECTION OF TEXTILE FABIRCS-
MECHANISM:
Clothing has ability to protect the skin
from incident solar radiation because
the fabric from which it is made can
reflect, absorb, transmit and scatter solar
wavelength.
The mechanism depends on following
factors;
to
1) Fibre type
2) The fibre surface smoothness
3) The fabric cover factor
4) Surface are of fabric covered by yarns
5) The presence or absence if finishing
agent
6) Dyes and UV absorbers.
Protective clothing should have high UV
ray reflecting and absorbing properties
as possible so that it prevents UV rays
from reaching the skin and threatening
the human body. The key property for
determining the quality of clothing
protection is its transmittance. The
transmittance of UV rays through textile
materials is defined as the ratio of the
total amount of incidental UV rays in a
defined wavelength range to the
amount of transmitted UV rays reaching
the skin.
Several different effects occur when UV
radiation hits a textile surface, causing
the UV radiation to be broken down into The chemical compounds suitable for
several components. Part of the UV absorbers should meet the following
radiation is reflected at the boundaries criteria.
of the textile surface; another part is • It should absorb effectively
absorbed when it penetrates the sample, throughout the UV region, but
that is, it is converted to a different especially in 350-400 nm region.
energy form. Yet another part of the • It must be UV stable.
radiation is travels through the fabric • These should be heat stable and
and reaches the skin; this part is referred compatible with the other
to as ‘transmission’. additives in finishing formulation.
• These should be quick
If the fibers absorb all the incident UV
transformation of the high energy
radiation, then the only source of
into the vibration energy in the
transmitted rays is from the spacing
absorber molecules and then into
between the yarns.
the heat energy into the
By definition, theoretical maximum UPF
surrounding without photo
value is the reciprocal of 1minus the
degradation or colour change in
cover factor.
the medium it protects.
Using a UPF value of 50 as the goal, a
fabric with the cover factor of 0.98 and
Solar Protection Factor;
composed of fibers that can absorbs all
SPF stands for sun/solar protection
the non reflected UV radiation, will
factor and is the rating we are familiar
provide its wearer excellent protection
with for sunscreens and other sun-
against UV radiation.
protective products. SPF is a
measurement of UV-B radiation only .
UV ABORBER;
The solar protection factor (SPF) is
UV absorbers are inorganic or organic
defined as the ratio of the length of time
absorbers substances capable of
of solar radiation exposure required for
selectively absorbing short wave solar
the skin to show redness (erythema) with
radiation in the spectral region of 280-
and without protection. Mathematically,
400 nm and o restoring the absorbed
SPF can be calculated as follows:
energy intact to the environment.

SPF = MED Protected Skin

MED Unprotected Skin
Where, STANDARDS AND TEST METHODS FOR
MED represents minimal epithermal UV PROTECTIVE CLOTHING:
dose MED is defined as the minimum Standards/
quantity of radiant energy required to Organization Testing Title
Methods
produce first detectable reddening of
Standards Sun protective
the skin, 22 ± 2 hours after exposure. Australia/New clothing
AS/NZS 4399
Zealand evaluation &
ULTRAVIOLET PROTECTION FACTOR (UPF); (AS/NZS) classification
The protection extended by the textile The European
Classification &
EN13758-1 & marking of UV
materials are denoted by Ultraviolet committee for
EN13758-2 Protective
standardization
Protection Factor (UPF). UPF measures apparel
the amount of UV radiation that Children
Clothing,
penetrates a fabric and reaches the skin. requirement for
BS7949
UPF measures both UV-A & UV-B British Standards protection
Institution against
radiation blocked. . A fabric with a UPF BS 7914
erythermally
15 allows only 1/15th (6.66%) of the UV- weighed solar
radiation.
radiation to penetrate the skin as
Transmittance or
compared to uncovered skin. American blocking
Association of erythermally
AATCC 183
Textile Colorist weighed UV
UPF = Risk unprotected (Σ Sλ*Sλ*Δλ) and Chemist radiation
through fabrics.
Risk protected (Σ Sλ*Sλ*Δλ*Tλ)

Where,

S = solar spectral irradiance (sec),

T = Average spectral transmittance of

the specimen,

S = Solar spectral irradiance (Sec),

= Measured wavelength interval

(nm)

UPF Rating UPF Protection Category

15-24 Good
25-40 Very Good
Prepared By;
40-50+ Excellent
Yash Nibre