| Keywords |
Woven fabric ; Structural parameter ; UV protective property ; Fabric weight ; Solid volume fraction |
| Abstract |
Stratospheric ozone depletion causes increased levels of ultraviolet radiation on earth, and overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is believed to be the major cause of skin cancer. Clothing materials provide simple and effective means to protect skin from UV radiation, but they offer different degrees of UV radiation protection depending on various factors. The objectives of this study are to explore structural parameters that are critical in the UVR transmission of woven fabrics and develop statistical models that predict UVR transmission through woven fabrics using those parameters. Thirteen woven fabrics with various fabric weight, thickness, and construction were selected, and the UV protective properties were measured. Textile structural parameters, such as fabric cover factor, solid volume fraction, and yarn twist factor, that could estimate fabric openness and describe the complex geometric structure of woven fabrics were computed from basic fabric characteristics. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the relationship between structural parameters and UVR transmission through woven fabrics. It was found that structural parameters have a dominant effect on UVR transmission of woven fabrics. A statistical model predicting the level of UV-A transmission was developed based on fabric weight, solid volume fraction, and yarn twist factor, with an R2 value of 0.92. A statistical model estimating the level of UV-B transmission was developed using fabric weight, thickness, solid volume fraction, and cover factor, with an R2 value of 0.91. These findings could be useful for engineering woven fabrics with high UV radiation protection. |