Photocatalyst Effects
Antimicrobial
Bacteria and viruses are organic compounds which can be decomposed by ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst efficiently. Through specialized textile processing technology, ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst can easily inhibit bacteria to remove disease-carriers attaching onto fabrics with a long-term effect. The antimicrobial ability of ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst has been proved by repetitive tests from the Japanese-Health-Ministry-assigned inspection institutions. Furthermore, according to the test reports of Intertek Testing Services, the Anti-bacterial rate of ARC-FLASH-processed textile reaches 99.99%.
ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst processing technology is the only one approved by Taiwan Textile Federation standard of anti-bacteria for medical use.
Test Reports of ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed Textile Products from the Ministry of Health and Wealth of Japanese Government
| Certificate No. | Test Target | Material | Test Date (Heisei Year) |
| Y-98518-040 | Escherichia coli | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed cloth 10/06/26 | 10/06/26 |
| Y-99518-018 | Escherichia coli | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed wiping cloth | 11/03/15 |
| Y-99518-109 | Staphylococcus aureus | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed towels | 11/09/03 |
| Y-99518-140 | Toxicity test | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed towels | 11/11/24 |
| Y-99518-144 | MRSA | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed fabric | 11/12/03 |
| Y-00518-028 | Escherichia coli | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed T-shirt | 12/03/31 |
| Y-01518-028 | Staphylococcus aureus | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed bed pad/sheet | 13/04/23 |
| Y-02518-038 | Washing endurance test | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed fabric | 14/0425 |
| Y-99518-019SS | Diplococcus Pneumococcus | ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed fabric | 15/04/01 |
Deodorizing
All the odor molecules are organic compounds. ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst has an oxidizing power even stronger than ozone, so it can easily deodorize smoking, sweat, body smells as well as stinks from food or liquors on fabrics within 10 seconds under light illumination.
Self-cleaning
The powerful oxidizing ability can decompose the organic stain or dye to keep clothing or towels clean and easy to wash.
Experiment of removing dyes on ARC-FLASH-processed cloth under light illumination. Blue colors are from liberty ink and Methylene blue.
Anti-mold
Growing mold between fibers is the main reason for mildew, especially in a humid environment like Taiwan where many kinds of fabrics can easily get moldy. The superior antimicrobial ability of ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst can avoid bacteria multiplying and moreover inhibit molding along with the bad odor generated from mildew.
Wrap two toasts with ARC-FLASH-processed cloth and regular cloth respectively and place them in the same environment for 10 days. It was observed that the one wrapped with ARC-FLASH-processed cloth did not get moldy while the other one did, which proved that ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst can inhibit bacteria growth and mildew.
Photocatalyst can decompose fungi effectively. It is shown that the athlete foot’s syndromes are greatly improved after wearing by ARC-FLASH-processed socks for 97 days.
It is shown that the atopic eczema syndromes are greatly improved after being wrapped by ARC-FLASH-processed cloth for 20 days.
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UV-light Blocking
There have been many academic data since 1960s to indicate that the part of skin covered by clothing will have a lower chance to get skin cancer compared to the part uncovered due to the different degree of UV light exposure in sunshine. The statistical research of a wide-scale and long-term track on 51,000 Swedes has given a surprising warning signal. In 1961, the percentage of getting skin cancer in 100,000 people is 5.57%; however, it has increased to 14.88% in 1998.
From related studies, the SPF coefficient of a regular T-shirt is only 5~ 6 and it will be lowered to 3 after being soaked in sweat. The SPF coefficient is determined by TiO2’s concentration, for example, a SPF 17 Sunblock has a TiO2 content of 2.818%. TiO2 in ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst reaches 30% and it has been proved to achieve an outcome of total sun block.Through the UV-light detection experiment，it can be proved that ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst-processed textile has an affect of UV-light blocking.
The equipments used in this experiment are as follows.
- Ultraviolet detector(UV-2000)
- Specifications: G5842 resistance with high light-sensitivity, wavelength of detectable range 260nm~400nm, wavelength of maximal detection 370nm, effective detection area 0.8X 0.8mm, detection range 0~1999mw/cm2
- UV-light tube
- Wavelength range 365~380nm
- T-Shirt
- Two T-shirts with one processed by ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst and the other unprocessed respectively
Other Functions
According to ITSI plan report no. CTI-0453S101(91) of Ministry of Economics in Taiwan, fabrics processed with nanoscale TiO2 can play effects of “infrared” and “anti-static , therefore, Photocatalyst is an optimal applied material in functional textile because of its multi-functionality.