Ciba Introduces UV Absorber for Fabric Softeners
The Consumer Care Div. of Ciba Specialty Chemical Co. has launched Tinosorb FR, an ultraviolet (UV) light-absorbing ingredient for fabric softeners. Consumers will be able to improve garment UV performance, says Ciba, "simply adding fabric softener containing Tinosorb FR to the laundry rinse cycle."
The introduction follows by two years the launch of a similar product for detergents, Tinosorb FD. Detergent manufacturers approached it cautiously because of consumer perception. "Detergents remove things from clothing, and it's a stretch to use them to put something on the clothing," explains Ciba head of fabric care Bob Myers.
A few detergent manufacturers are planning to introduce detergents that use Tinosorb FD later this year. Adding Tinosorb FR to rinse-cycle fabric softeners, however, should prove an easier sell says Myers.
Both Tinosorb FD and FR combine two chemistries in which Ciba is basic: UV absorbers, which Ciba sells to producers of cosmetics, sunscreens and other personal care products; and fluorescent whitening agents, dyes that reflect invisible light as visible white light. The Tinosorb products, says Myers, are true UV absorbers and not blocking agents.
Tinosorb FR works by binding onto laundered fibers during the rinse cycle. It accumulates with each wash, increasing UV protection every time it is used. does not affect the feel or comfort of the original garment, and achieves good UV protection after only a few rinse cycles.
"It essentially turns lightweight summer clothing into a high performance sunscreen," says Myers. "This is important because most people aren't aware that sunscreens generally provide much greater protection than typical cotton T-shirts."
Textiles are usually perceived as providing consumers with adequate skin protection. However most lightweight clothes do not offer sufficient protection against UVA (deep-penetrating, long-wave UV radiation known to cause skin cancer, premature aging, and blotching) and UVB (shorter-wave UV that causes sunburn and skin cancer).
Cotton T-shirts and polo shirts, for example, have a 5-8 sun protection factor (SPF). Most experts recommend sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 90% of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.
"We cosponsored a booth at the recent New Orleans meeting of the American Academy of Dermatologists with the Skin Cancer Foundation," says Myer. "We were amazed at the response of dermatologists. They were very aware of inefficiencies of clothing to block UV radiation and loved the concept of rinsing in protection."
Ciba Specialty Chemicals, which operates in 117 countries, had sales of $5.8 billion and R&D expenditures of $210 million in 1998.
By Alan S. Brown
For more information: Bob Myers, Head, Fabric Care, Ciba Specialty Chemicals Consumer Care Div. (North America), 4090 Premier Dr., High Point, NC 27265. Phone: 336-801-2226. Fax: 336-801-2057.