Method of increasing the SPF rating and compounds suitable for increasing the SPF rating of fibre or fabric

An article of clothing comprising a plurality of fibers and one or more UVR absorber compounds, wherein the plurality of fibers have a density of less than 200 grams per square meter and the SPF rating of the article has been increased to at least 20 by the addition of less than 3% (based on weight of fiber) of one or more UVR absorber compounds of formulae (III) or (IV):

• ##STR7## wherein A is --NH-- or --SO.sub.2 -- and when A is --NH--, B is selected from a compound of formulae (i)-(vii) as follows:
• ##STR8## and when A is --SO.sub.2 --, B is selected from a compound of formulae (viii)-(x) as follows:
• (viii) --CH.dbd.CH--OSO.sub.3 H
• (ix) --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OSO.sub.3 H
• (x) --NH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OSO.sub.3 H;
• R is independently selected from --OH, --NH.sub.2, --SO.sub.3 M.sup.+, --SO.sub.3 H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkylcarboxylate, --S-alkyl, --CF.sub.3, and --N-di-alkyl;
• n=0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• M.sup.+ =cation;
• X=is independently selected from H, Cl, F, or Br;
• and
• Y=X or R.

An article of clothing comprising a plurality of fibers and one or more UVR absorber compounds of formulae (III) or (IV):

• ##STR9## wherein A is --NH-- or --SO.sub.2 -- and when A is --NH--, B is selected from a compound of formulae (i)-(vii) as follows:
• ##STR10## and when A is --SO.sub.2 --, B is selected from a compound of formulae (viii)-(x) as follows:
• (viii) --CH.dbd.CH--OSO.sub.3 H
• (ix) --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OSO.sub.3 H
• (x) --NH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OSO.sub.3 H;
• R is independently selected from --OH, --NH.sub.2, --SO.sub.3 M.sup.+, --SO.sub.3 H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkylcarboxylate, --S-alkyl, --CF.sub.3, and --N-di-alkyl;
• n=0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• M.sup.+ =cation;
• X=is independently selected from H, Cl, F, or Br;
• and
• Y=X or R.

Clothing or fabric in which the SPF rating has been increased to 20 or more prepared by a method which comprises applying, by exhaustion or pad-methods, to clothing or fabric one or more UVR absorber compounds of formulae (III) or (IV):

• ##STR11## wherein A is --NH-- or --SO.sub.2 -- and when A is --NH--, B is selected from a compound of formulae (i)-(vii) as follows:
• ##STR12## and when A is --SO.sub.2 --, B is selected from a compound of formulae (viii)-(x) as follows:
• (viii) --CH.dbd.CH--OSO.sub.2 H
• (ix) --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OSO.sub.3 H
• (x) --NH--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OSO.sub.3 H;
• R is independently selected from --OH, --NH.sub.2, --SO.sub.3 M.sup.+, --SO.sub.3 H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkylcarboxylate, --S-alkyl, --CF.sub.3, and --N-di-alkyl;
• n=0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• M.sup.+ =cation;
• X=is independently selected from H, Cl, F, or Br;
• and
• Y=X or R.