As doctors record a significant increase in the number of skin cancers and call for better prevention, performance textile manufacturer Freudenberg offers a solution with its microfilament textile Evolon. Evolon has been granted Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 80, the highest value of the demanding “UV Standard 801”, for different variants of the fabric. UV Standard 801 is the only standard to verify to durability of UV protection in “real-life” heavy use conditions.

 

Providing sunscreening or dim-out effect, Evolon is ideally suitable for curtains, roller blinds, sunshades, as well as awnings, canopies and marquees specifically designed for sun protection. At the same time Evolon medium-weight versions can make outdoor, protective and sportswear garments with an exceptional UV protection factor even in the worst sun conditions. In addition, Evolon feels comfortable, light and highly breathable, yet strong and windproof.

 

In the case of clothing, the sun protection factor is dramatically impacted by the stretching of a fabric during wear, by moisture from perspiration or water and by normal wear. Furthermore the sun protection factor is also affected during and after care of the textile. This is the reason why under UV Standard 801, the UV protection factor (UPF) is calculated in real-life conditions. The clothing textile material is therefore laundered as part of the test and wet during measurement and stretched in a specified way. 

 

Evolon, in its 100gsm variant, has passed all these tests resulting in a measured UPF of 80. For shading textiles, the stretching of the fabric, the weather (sun and rain) and humidity affect the sun protection factor. In this category, UV Standard 801 requires artificial weathering of the textiles, to simulate how they are affected by ageing while they are in use. In this category of products, the heavier 130 and 170gsm variants of Evolon have also shown the highest grade i.e. UPF 80.

 

Evolon’s outstanding properties results from a worldwide-patented manufacturing technology. Evolon is made of polyester and polyamide which provide "inbuilt" sun protection. What is more, unlike conventional woven or knitted fabrics, Evolon has a particularly tight construction with a multidirectional laying which avoids any gap between fibers. This high density microfilament structure allows Evolon to provide a durable sun protection, even after laundering. Evolon can be easily dyed or printed and is especially compatible with dark dyes which will reinforce UV Protection.

Enjoy the sun longer with Evolon

Aimed at determining the protection from UV radiation provided by textiles, the UV protection factor (UPF = Ultraviolet Protection Factor) indicates the factor by which the skin's own natural protection time - which depends on your individual skin type - is extended by the textile material.

 

The skin of a person with skin type 1, for example, with red or blond hair, blue eyes and a very pale complexion, has a natural protection time of about five to ten minutes. If such a person is exposed to strong sunlight for any longer without protection, they risk dangerous sunburn. If they are protected by a textile material like Evolon with UPF 80, they can extend the length of time they can remain in the sun by eighty times, without causing any skin damage. That is to say, to a maximum of 6.5 to 13 hours. 

 

The UV Standard 801 was developed to overcome the weaknesses in other existing test standards such as the Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZ 4399:1996) and the European standard EN 13758-1. Both of them do not take account of the stresses and strains imposed during washing and use. By contrast, under the UV Standard 801, the UPF of a garment is determined not only when it is new, but also when it has been stretched and wetted, after mechanical strain and washing. Shading textiles are tested under the UV Standard 801 in new condition and after artificial weathering, both when they are dry and wetted.

 

To determine the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), standardised measuring methods and a specialist test are required and conducted by the institutes of the International Test Association for Applied UV Protection. Germany-based Hohenstein Laboratories, or France-based IFTH, which conducted the conformity tests for Evolon, are among these institutes.

 

There are now over 100 companies making a variety of products offering high UV protection who have them tested and/or certificated under UV Standard 801. Freudenberg Evolon has just been granted one of the first UV Standard 801 certificates in France. Evolon fabrics are also OEKO-TEX Standard 100 product class I certified. Freudenberg Evolon production plant is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 50001 accredited.