Improving the ultraviolet protection factor of textiles through mechanical surface modification using calendering. Issue 9 (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bernhard, Alicia; Caven, Barnaby; Wright, Tom; Burtscher, Eduard; Bechtold, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Textile research journal. Volume 92:Issue 9/10(2022)
• Page Start: 1405
• Page End: 1414
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Ultraviolet protection factor -- calender -- ultraviolet radiation -- fabric structure -- cover factor; Textile industry -- Periodicals; Textile fabrics -- Periodicals; Textile research -- Periodicals; Textiles et tissus -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Textiles et tissus -- Périodiques; Textiles et tissus -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 677.005
• DOI: 10.1177/00405175211046624
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-5175

Abstract

The textile modification technique of calendering was used to change the cover factor of wearable textiles in order to improve the ultraviolet protection factor and decrease the amount of ultraviolet radiation transmitted through the fabric. Using optical microscopy and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, the quantifiable changes that occurred after repeated passes through the calender were measured. It was found that after one pass the uncovered area decreased by a factor of two and the ultraviolet protection factor increased by 200%. The thickness and air permeability of treated fabric decreased with repeated calendering. The bending stiffness remained nearly unchanged, and thus the mechanical properties were not altered substantially by the fabric compression.