In this project we are developing a textile material that provides protection against NIR and UV radiation. Spandex and nylon are selected as the textile materials since it is the widely used textile material to make sportswear. People who are engaged in outdoor sports activities expose to solar radiation often. Exposure to solar radiation can cause health issues such as skin and eye cancers, changes in biological genomes, etc. The active material that prevents entering the UV through the textile and reflecting the NIR is ZnO. In order to get the optimum performance ZnO particles must be on the surface of the textile fibrils. Polydopamine (PDA) is used as an adhesive to incorporate these ZnO onto spandex/nylon fibrils. Catechol groups in PDA make bonds with amide groups in the textile substrate and the hydroxyl groups in the ZnO nanoparticle surface. Therefore, the ZnO nanoparticles will immobilize on the textile surface and the ZnO nanoparticles can efficiently absorb UV radiation and reflect NIR radiation. Such textile materials have already prepared and currently the performances are being characterized.
