“\"Sun protection clothing\" – have you made the right choice?

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“\"Sun protection clothing\" – have you made the right choice? Sun protection is almost a top priority for those who care about their appearance in the summer. To protect their bodies from the sun, various sun-protective textiles such as face masks, masks, and sun-protective clothing are being used more and more often. Knowing how to choose and use these sun-protective textiles properly has also become something that people who care about their appearance are eager to understand. This summer, colorful UV-protective shirts have become an essential item for almost everyone who cares about their appearance. But have you really chosen the right UV-protective shirt? For most people, sun protection is understood as protecting against sunlight, but does it protect against all types of sunlight? In fact, through science popularization, most people now know that exposure to sunlight can promote the synthesis of vitamin D and bone development; for children, sufficient sun exposure can effectively prevent rickets. Skin that becomes red and tanned is a sign of health resulting from sun exposure, but this is only true when there is an appropriate amount of sun exposure. When sunlight reaches the ground, it is primarily ultraviolet rays that have a significant impact on human skin. Although their radiation energy accounts for only 6% of the total solar radiation, they are the main type of rays that need to be guarded against when using sun protection measures. If our skin is exposed to excessive ultraviolet radiation, it becomes darker and rougher, losing its elasticity. This not only affects appearance; more importantly, it accelerates the development of cataracts, causes keratitis and conjunctivitis, and can trigger skin diseases or even skin cancer, leading to various health problems. Therefore, sun protection is not only related to having fair skin but also to maintaining good health. Ultraviolet rays can be classified into long-wave ultraviolet UVA (wavelength 320–420 nm), medium-wave ultraviolet UVB (wavelength 275–320 nm), and short-wave ultraviolet UVC (wavelength 200–275 nm) based on their wavelength. UVA can penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis; over 95% of the ultraviolet rays to which the skin is exposed on a daily basis are UVA, which can easily cause damage and aging to the skin ； Prolonged exposure can also lead to the formation and deposition of melanin, causing the skin to become dark and dull, which is why it is referred to as tanning. UVB is known as the erythema spectrum; prolonged exposure to it causes the skin to turn red and become painful, and can result in immediate sunburn. This is the main wavelength that needs to be prevented. UVC is absorbed by the ozone layer before reaching the ground, so it has little effect on the skin. Therefore, sun protection is primarily aimed at shielding against the damage caused by UVA and UVB. In recent years, due to the massive release by humans of fluorocarbon derivatives such as CFCs, the atmosphere above the Earth has been increasingly damaged; the ozone layer has thinned and become less dense, resulting in an increase in ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. This has led to a rise in related diseases, which is why sun protection has become something that people must pay attention to. In light of this, sun-protective textiles were developed, and their ability to effectively block ultraviolet radiation has become the main factor people consider when choosing such textiles. An expert in textile testing technology at PONY Spuntest Group explained that when ultraviolet light hits textiles, part of it is absorbed, part is reflected, and part passes through the fabric. Only ultraviolet rays passing through the fabric affect the skin. The more absorbed and reflected, the less ultraviolet light that passes through, resulting in better protective performance. Therefore, to assess the UV protection performance of textiles, it is necessary to determine whether they enhance the reflection and absorption of ultraviolet rays. The ability of textiles to block ultraviolet rays is related to factors such as the type and structure of fibers, the structure of yarns, the structure and specifications of the fabric, as well as its color. Currently, among the textile fibers commonly used, groups such as the benzene rings in polyester molecules and the amino acids in wool molecules exhibit good absorption of ultraviolet light with wavelengths less than 300 nm ； The pectin-like oblique pore structure in hemp fibers, along with the grooves and cracks present therein, have a good effect on eliminating light waves ； Cotton fabrics have relatively poor UV protection and are the types of fabric through which ultraviolet rays pass most easily. Therefore, unless specially processed, pure cotton products have poor UV protection properties. In terms of the structure of the raw yarns, the pattern regarding the UV protection properties of textiles is as follows: fabrics made from short fibers outperform those made from long fibers ； Fine fiber fabrics are superior to coarse fiber fabrics ； Generally, fiber fabrics with irregular cross-sections are superior to those with circular cross-sections ； Untwisted filament products are superior to twisted filament products. The fabric structure is also one of the factors that determine a textile’s ability to protect against ultraviolet radiation. The thicker and denser the fabric, with a lower porosity, the less ultraviolet light can pass through, and thus the greater the protective effect of the textile on the human body. Currently, most sun-protective clothing available on the market is made of semi-transparent, lightweight materials; if it lacks any design or processing specifically aimed at blocking ultraviolet rays, it can only cover the body but cannot effectively shield against them. However, thick and tightly woven fabrics have poor breathability, moisture permeability, and sweat-wicking properties; therefore, it is necessary to balance UV protection with the coolness and comfort of the garment. So, how do you choose textiles suitable for summer? After the fabric is dyed, and as its color deepens, the UV transmittance of the fabric decreases, meaning its UV protection properties improve. Among the different colors, black has the best UV protection properties, followed by navy blue, red, dark green, and purple. Green, light red, light green, and white have poorer UV protection capabilities; in particular, the whiter the fabric, the worse its UV protection properties. It is difficult to achieve good UV protection without specialized treatment; however, after being treated with UV-protective treatments, the physical and mechanical properties of textiles, as well as their feel and comfort, generally decrease. Moreover, UV-protective textiles produced by such treatments are usually not resistant to washing. Therefore, it is recommended that UV-protective textiles be washed as little as possible, or not at all, in order to preserve their UV protection capabilities. Furthermore, for products such as UV-blocking sunshades, if rainwater comes into direct contact with the UV-blocking layer on rainy days, its UV-blocking performance will decrease; it is recommended not to use them in rainy conditions. PONY Puyi Testing Group is an inspection agency for the quality supervision of imported and exported goods, recognized by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. It has long been entrusted by industrial and commercial authorities across the country to carry out quality inspections and risk monitoring on goods such as textiles in the market. Based on various standards including national standards and industry standards, it can conduct professional tests on the chemical and physical properties of textiles.