UV Protection Efficiency of Pantyhose and Tights while Being Worn

Abstract

UV protection pantyhose are in the market, but the effectiveness of the ultraviolet radiation (UV) protection on these stretchy products while being worn was not yet to be clarified. The purpose of this study is to examine the UV protection efficiency on items made of stretchy fabric, namely the pantyhose and tights, while being worn. Samples correlating to items being worn were fitted on the mannequin legs to monitor the transmittance, UPF, and porosity on the three parts of the body: the ankle, the calf, and the thigh. It was found that the UV protection efficiency of pantyhose and tights that stretch when worn was greatly influenced by porosity, and that the UV protection efficiency decreased as porosity increased. The fine yarn of pantyhose with high porosity did not possess any UV protection efficiency, and the UV protection was found useless. In case of tights, it was clarified that items with higher porosity were influenced by lightness rather than hue, and the lower the lightness, the higher the UV protection efficiency. Black color indicated adequate UV protection efficiency when porosity was less than 10%. UV protection efficiency of tights showed correlation with weight, but not with denier.