UV-blocking cotton fabric design for comfortable summer wears: factors, durability and nanomaterials

The ultraviolet rays from sunlight pose a natural hazard to human health and can cause serious health problems. Some medical artificial lights also emit ultraviolet radiation. Unprotected human skin exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light can cause serious health problems, including skin aging, photosensitivity (rash), erythema (redness of the skin), and melanoma (skin cancer). To protect human skin from UV radiation, UV-blocking or protective products are used. According to medical professionals, UV protection products must be safe, chemically inert, non-irritating, non-toxic, and resistant to light, and completely block the replication of UV rays. Sunscreen cream/lotion products are used for UV protection, but these products cannot provide complete protection. According to experts, one of the most efficient strategies to avoid sun damage is to wear protective gear. Researches are going on the manufacture of smart textiles that can be deployed as a protective shield with an adornment look to wear. Therefore, researchers have paid great attention to the development of fibers with anti-ultraviolet function. This review discusses the upshot of UV radiation on textile materials in particular cotton fabrics. It also describes the correlation between ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) and the physicochemical and structural properties of cotton fabrics. This review focuses on the manufacturing of UV protective cotton fabrics by applying UV absorbers and nanoparticles, their application process, and effects.