Measurement of Ultraviolet Protection Factor UPF of UV Protection Clothing by Using LabSolutions™ UV-Vis

Introduction

Sunlight that reaches the earth is classified as visible light (VIS) that can be seen by the human eye, ultraviolet light (UV), which has shorter wavelengths than visible light, and infrared light (IR), which has longer wavelengths. Of these, UV has the highest energy and causes changes in the physical properties of objects exposed for extended periods of time. In humans, excessive exposure to UV radiation is a cause of red spots (erythema), liver spots (chloasma), and freckles, and can also cause skin cancer. For this reason, clothing that has been given treatment to prevent transmission of UV, or so-called “UV cut” treatment, is frequently seen in the market. The UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) value is an index of the degree of UV protection provided by this clothing. UPF values are specified in the standards of various countries around the world. In Japan, JIS L 1925 was established in 2019, providing a method for evaluating ultraviolet-ray shielding (“UV cut”) textile products. This article introduces an example in which the UPF values of UV protection- treated clothing were calculated by using LabSolutions UV-Vis.

November 20, 2019 GMT