Effect of textile processing on ultraviolet protection of cotton fabric
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Date
2012
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
The present research was planned to study the effect of textile processing on the ultraviolet protection of
cotton fabric. To achieve the objectives proposed in the research plan, cotton fabric suitable for apparel use during
summer season was selected, desized, chemically and enzymatically scoured and bleached, dyed with different
concentrations of blue coloured direct, reactive and natural indigo dyes and tested for colorfastness properties and
application of laundry additives was done. Change in physical properties regarding fabric count, fabric thickness,
weight, thickness, shrinkage, tensile strength, elongation, abrasion resistance, moisture content and air
permeability were examined and effect of all these properties along with wetting and abrasion on ultraviolet
protection on cotton fabric was investigated. An awareness package about ultraviolet protection through textiles
and clothing was developed and information was disseminated through lectures and interactive sessions and
distribution of awareness package and the knowledge acquisition of respondents was assessed. It was found that on
preparatory treatments the UPF value of the fabric reduced from 46.08 to 26.29 percent and mean UPF value
ranging from 25.02 to 13.47 and UV protection from very good to good. 2, 5 and 8 percent dye concentrations
were selected as light, medium and dark shades for further work on the basis of maximum percent dye absorption
and best colour fastness properties. The UPF of the fabric increased remarkably when dyed with direct, reactive
and natural indigo dyes in selected concentrations. The UPF increased with increase in dye concentration for all
the three dyes. For 2 and 5 percent dye concentrations, the highest mean UPF value was obtained with natural
indigo dye i.e. 65.24 and 87.25 with 50+ rating and providing excellent protection and lowest UPF by direct dye
i.e. 30.71 and 45.92. For 8 percent concentration, the highest mean UPF was obtained with reactive dye (99.59)
followed by natural indigo dye (88.44) and the lowest mean UPF values were obtained with direct dye (67.88) all
with 50+ rating. For improving ultraviolet protection of cotton fabric, natural indigo dye proved to best followed
by reactive and direct dye. Natural indigo dyed fabrics exhibited excellent colour fastness, reactive dye showed
very good colour fastness and direct dye with poor colour fastness. In case of undyed fabric, fabric count, percent
shrinkage, percent elongation, moisture content and air permeability increased while weight, thickness, tensile
strength, abrasion resistance and mean UPF value decreased with the introduction of preparatory treatments. For
dyed fabrics, increase in dye concentration showed increase in fabric count, weight, thickness, percent shrinkage,
tensile strength, percent elongation, moisture content and air permeability while abrasion resistance of the fabric
decreased of all the dyed and treated samples. It was concluded that the increase in UPF cannot be attributed to
change in one single property because change in each and every property along with the type of dye and dye
concentration in totality effect the ultraviolet protection of the fabric. Both dyed and undyed fabrics showed a
drastic reduction in ultraviolet protection after wetting and abrasion. Among various laundry additives available in
market, most of the respondents were using 10 ml Revive liquid starch per l of water, 15 ml comfort fabric
conditioner per 10 l of water, 5 g Ranipal OBA per 10 l ofwater and 3 ml Robin blue liquid per 4 l of water for
application on coloured and white clothes. Maximum increase in UPF value from 39.45 to 42.16 was seen when
the laundry additives were applied in combination on whiteclothes. With the application of OBA a remarkable
difference in mean UPF value of all the dyed fabrics samples was observed whereas with the application of starch
and fabric conditioner the mean UPF value increased indyed fabrics though the change was not remarkable.
Leaflets, pamphlets and booklets in hindi and english languages were prepared and information on UV protection
through textiles and clothing was disseminated through lectures, power pointpresentations and interactive sessions
at different rural and urban locations of Hisar to create awareness among consumers. The knowledge level of rural
and urban respondents about UV protection through textiles and clothing significantly improved after
dissemination of information indicating significant effectiveness of developed package.
Description
Keywords
Textile Processing, dyeing, UV, UPF, laundry Additives and Awareness Package