Action of a finishing product in the improvement of the ultraviolet protection provided by cotton fabrics. Modelisation of the effect

摘要

The Ultraviolet Protection Factor of a fabric is a quantitative measurement of the effectiveness of the fabric to protect the human skin against ultraviolet radiation. The protection provided by uncoloured cellulosic fabrics is, in general, too low, but can be improved by the finishing treatment with UV-absorbers. In the present paper cotton fabrics with different compactness, and hence with different initial Ultraviolet Protection Factor values, are treated with several concentrations of an UV-absorber, according to a predefined experimental plan. The influence of each variable as well as their interaction on the response of Ultraviolet Protection Factor is analysed and a statistical model for predictions is proposed.