First, they can be stretched repeatedly, and will return almost exactly back to original size and shape. Second, they are lightweight, soft, and smooth. Additionally, they are easily dyed. They are also resilient since they are resistant to abrasion and the deleterious effects of body oils, perspiration, and detergents. They are compatible with other materials, and can be spun with other types of fibers to produce unique fabrics, which have characteristics of both fibers. Spandex is used in a variety of different clothing types.
Since it is lightweight and does not restrict movement, it is most often used in athletic wear. This includes such garments as swimsuits, bicycle pants, and exercise wear.
The form-fitting properties of spandex makes it a good for use in under-garments. Hence, it is used in waist bands, support hose, bras, and briefs. The development of spandex was started during World War II. At this time, chemists took on the challenge of developing synthetic replacements for rubber.
Two primary motivating factors prompted their research. First, the war effort required most of the available rubber for building equipment. Second, the price of rubber was unstable and it fluctuated frequently. Developing an alternative to rubber could solve both of these problems. At first, their goal was to develop a durable elastic strand based on synthetic polymers.
In , the first polyurethane elastomers were produced. These polymers produced millable gums, which were an adequate alternative to rubber.
Around the same time, scientists at Du Pont produced the first nylon polymers. These early nylon polymers were stiff and rigid, so efforts were begun to make them more elastic. When scientists found that other polyurethanes could be made into fine threads, they decided that these materials might be useful in making more stretchable nylons or in making lightweight garments. The first spandex fibers were produced on an experimental level by one of the early pioneers in polymer chemistry, Farbenfabriken Bayer.
He earned a German patent for his synthesis in The final development of the fibers were worked out independently by scientists at Du Pont and the U. Rubber Company. Du Pont used the brand name Lycra and began full scale manufacture in They are currently the world leader in the production of spandex fibers.
A variety of raw materials are used to produce stretchable spandex fibers. This includes prepolymers which produce the backbone of the fiber, stabilizers which protect the integrity of the polymer, and colorants.
Two types of prepolymers are reacted to produce the spandex fiber polymer back-bone. One is a flexible macroglycol while the other is a stiff diisocyanate. The macro-glycol can be a polyester, polyether, polycarbonate, polycaprolactone or some combination of these.
These are long chain polymers, which have hydroxyl groups -OH on both ends. The important feature of these molecules is that they are long and flexible. This part of the spandex fiber is responsible for its stretching characteristic. The other prepolymer used to produce spandex is a polymeric diisocyanate. This is a shorter chain polymer, which has an isocyanate -NCO group on both ends.
The principal characteristic of this molecule is its rigidity. In the fiber, this molecule provides strength. Kindliman, a corsetiere, hardly needed to advertise. At that time, women thought it was necessary to wear a corset and considered themselves indecently dressed without it until early in the twentieth century.
Corsets were a combination brassiere-girdle-waist cincher in an all-in-one garment, forming the foundation shape for fashionable dress. The spandex enables the fleece to last longer than if it was made from just wool, polyester, or cotton. This protects you from the elements and needs to be tough and durable. The style of the jackets will often have vents at the armpits for the same purpose. And if all this makes you too hot, it is easy to take a layer off to cool down.
This is an important way to lose heat fast — spandex in the popular beanies prevents them from being blown off when it is very windy, and it is an ideal component of the tight-fitting bathing hats. Spandex has a great future ahead. It is already being incorporated into door panels in cars and is on the road to becoming a useful material for upholstery where the elastic properties and hard-wearing characteristics are much in demand.
Bedding is likely to be another market for spandex — and the footwear industry is interested in incorporating spandex into sports shoes and also into ordinary shoes where the elasticity will provide greater comfort, especially to the older folks. Spandex, lycra, elastane is an amazing product to be found in an increasing number of garments.
It is breaking out into other markets as well. You will almost certainly have some in your own clothes. It does not create material for clothes on its own but works as a core for other fibers to wrap around. And it allows these other fibers to keep their own characteristics. This includes the ability of wool to keep you warm. Spandex, on its own, does nothing to maintain body temperature but combine it with wool, and you have a warm fabric. So, no — spandex will not keep you warm, but if used wisely, the material mixed with cotton and more especially wool will.
Uses of spandex. It is well known that spandex is highly used in the apparel industry. However, this is also a useful fabric for hospitality and industrial organizations.
Spandex fabrics are mostly used in garments where comfort and fit both are required like hosiery, swimsuits, exercise wear, socks, surgical hose, undergarments, gloves, cycling shorts, wrestling suits, rowing suits, specialized clothing like zentai suits, motion capture suits, denims, etc.
Sports apparel and accessories industry particularly make use of spandex in making many items. Spandex garments are perfect for athletes and cyclists, as it helps to reduce any resistance to wind.
This makes it an ideal garment for competitive cyclists and runners. Spandex fabric is also known to provide support due to which sport bras are produced using this fabric.
Spandex is not only used in sport garments but even used for manufacturing sport accessories like volleyballs and soccer balls. Just as spandex is useful for apparel industry, similarly it is also favorable for the industrial applications. Items made from rubber are now made with spandex. Medical industry is using spandex instead of latex in producing many products such as rubber tubing, hosing and knee or back braces. It is also used in producing household products like fitted sheets and microbead pillows.
One of the lesser known uses of spandex is for interior decoration and event planning. For example, spandex fabric is used for table coverings and latex chair coverings. Instead of the conventional table cloth, a well fitted spandex table covering will give a modern look to the dining area.
Nowadays, chair covering and chair bands made from spandex are more used as cloth shrinks after long use, while spandex fabric fits perfectly and can be used for a long time. Disadvantages of Spandex. As discussed earlier, there are many advantages of spandex fabric with its flexibility, durability, comfort, fit and so on.
However, it also has few disadvantages. Spandex material is not a breathable fabric and traps moisture, sweat, bad odor within the garment which may lead to skin infection. These issues can be removed by combining cotton or other breathable materials with spandex. Spandex is very sensitive to heat due its chemical formation and does not absorb liquid.
Hence, washing spandex in hot water, using iron or machine drying can permanently damage the fabric. Further, the smooth and slippery surface of spandex creates lack of friction, which may sometimes pose risk to the wearer. Blending spandex with other fibers will resolve most of its disadvantages. Hence, one can find variety of garments in blend with spandex in the stores.
Spandex has come out far from its origin days and has become the most popular fiber on fashion front today. Whether it is sportswear or men's suits, bed linens to shoes, women's wear to medical products, this fiber has captured every field and is in great demand globally.
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