Ultraviolet Protection and Light Transmission Properties of a Cotton/Spandex Fabric Treated with TiO ₂ Extender Pigments

UV protection is a key quality attribute for many consumer products such as sunscreens, paints, coatings, and textiles. One common UV protection mechanism, especially for sunscreens, uses metal oxides. Researchers have explored the use of metal oxides, in particular, TiO ₂ and ZnO, for their UV protection, antimicrobial efficacy, and self-cleaning properties on cotton specimens. This work examines whether three TiO ₂ extender pigments commonly used in the paints and coatings industry, calcium carbonate, kaolin clay, and barium sulfate, can impart UV-Vis opacity to a reactive dyed cotton/spandex knit fabric. Barium sulfate coatings were found to greatly improve dyed cotton/spandex fabric opacity in both the UV and visible light of the electromagnetic spectrum. Barium sulfate coatings yielded exceptional UV protection on dyed cotton/spandex fabric.