Fabric
Factors that affect the level of sun protection provided by a fabric, in approximate order of importance, include weave, color, weight, stretch, and wetness. In addition, UV absorbers may be added at various points in the manufacturing process to enhance UV protection levels. The more open/less dense the fabric, the worse the protection(weave weight stretch).The darker the color, the more dye, the better the protection. Getting a fabric wet reduces the protection as much as half except for silk and viscose which can get more protective when wet. Polyester contains an ester(benzene) ring that absorbs UV light.
There is some indication that washing fabrics in detergents containing fabric brighteners, which absorb UV radiation, might increase their protective capability. Studies at the University of Alberta also suggest that darker colored fabrics can offer more protection than lighter colored fabrics.
Provide better protection:
- Specially manufactured fabrics
- ZnO Cotton Viscose fabrics
- black or dark blue denim jeans
- wool garments
- Satin finished silk of any weight
- polyacrylonitrile
- 100%polyester
- Shiny polyester blends
- tightly woven fabrics
- unbleached cotton(most cotton sold is bleached)
Provide low protection:
- polyester crepe
- bleached cotton
- viscose
- knits
- undyed/white jeans
- worn/old fabric
Read more about this topic: Sun Protective Clothing
Famous quotes containing the word fabric:
“Men may die, but the fabric of our free institutions remains unshaken.”
—Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886)
“It is not a piece of fine feminine Spitalfields silk—but is of the horrible texture of a fabric that should be woven of ships’ cables & hausers. A Polar wind blows through it, & birds of prey hover over it. Warn all gentle fastidious people from so much as peeping into the book—on risk of a lumbago & sciatics.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“We have seen that men are learning that work, productivity, and marriage may be very important parts of life, but they are not its whole cloth. The rest of the fabric is made of nurturing relationships, especially those with children—relationships which are intimate, trusting, humane, complex, and full of care.”
—Kyle D. Pruett (20th century)