Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: iva on 26/02/2010 05:39:19

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: iva on 26/02/2010 05:39:19

I have read a recent article stating that red and blue clothing protect the skin best against UV. Why is this so when white has always been the popular choice? Also I would imagine composition of the clothes would make a difference too then and not just their colour?

 

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: Bored chemist on 26/02/2010 06:55:35

There's no real way to tell from the colour if something blocks UV. Having said that it's hard to see how you could make a dye that was black but didn't absorb UV well. The design of the clothing is a big factor too.

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: LeeE on 26/02/2010 11:50:31

Red and blue doesn't make sense to me.  Red is long wavelength visible light and blue is short wavelength visible light, so red and blue are at opposite ends of the visible spectrum.  However, both red and blue light are longer than UV, which is shorter than either.

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: BenV on 26/02/2010 14:42:21

I would think that white clothes would be better, as they often include optical brighteners which interact with UV to give out blue light, and make your clothes "whiter than white"^TM.

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: flr on 27/02/2010 23:41:14

even the glass is opaque for UV.

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: LeeE on 28/02/2010 12:20:22

'Ordinary' glass is partially transparent to Near ultraviolet (UVA).

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: Bored chemist on 28/02/2010 17:07:45

You need to remember that cloth is just a lot of holes woven together. The holes have no UV protection so the fabric will never be brilliant as a sun block.

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: LeeE on 28/02/2010 23:36:13

Quote from: Bored chemist on 28/02/2010 17:07:45

...is just a lot of holes woven together...

You make it sound like semiconductors [;D]

Title: What colour clothing reflect UV best and why?
Post by: efovargue on 01/03/2010 10:24:49

I thought that black absorbed UV light - thousands of old women in Greece can't be wrong!



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