What qualities should a fabric have? You may all come up with different types of things you look for in fabric and select a particular fabric type based on your own preferences and properties. We may not all agree on each other’s choice, but, there is one universal property that a fabric must-have. It is longevity and durability. If a fabric is not durable and has a short life, it is of no use to almost ninety-nine percent of the public. Lycra fabrics, however, have both durability and strength.
Where does
the term comes from and what does it refer to?
Lycra is the brand name of any product made from elastane, which is in turn a synthetic material originally created to replace latex. It has a great stretch and is excellent to be used in hosiery and tight-fitting sports dresses. This is a type of material that can be mixed with polyester or any other natural or synthetic material to achieve some new properties and it often produces an excellent blend.
This fabric was initially developed in 1958.
How is it
formed?
This great fabric is a polymer i.e. it is made up of smaller units called monomers that unite and combine in a special way to give rise to lycra fabrics. The long-chain polymer in this case is called polyurethane, which is achieved by reacting to polyester with disconsolate. This polymer is converted into yarns through a dry spinning process.
It is basically the chemical composition of this fabric that contributes to its special properties which are stretchiness and strength. It consists of long, flexible fibers that alternate with shorter, crystalline fibers. Long fibers are the building blocks of the fabric while shorter, crystalline fibers provide reinforcement that contributes to the unique aspects of this fabric.
Where is
it used?
This fabric is the best fit for sports dresses, women's lingerie, and undergarments. It is used almost everywhere, where a degree of flexibility is required. For fashion dresses only 2 percent of this fabric is used and it gives an excellent stretch and strength to the garments.
The fact that it is sunlight resistant makes it a popular fabric for swimming and other sportswear. It does not hinder your body from any movement, as it can be stretched more than 8 times of its own length.
Advantages
of using this unique fabric
It comes with a number of advantages that make it the best fit for multiple purposes. Here you will find a brief account of what lycra fabrics have to offer to you.
● The first thing is that it is very stretchy and it is easily and quickly restored to its original length when released.
● Excellent aging and mildew resistance makes it the perfect fabric for a number of purposes.
● It has a great and long life span, and does not wear out easily with time.
● It produces an elegant blend when mixed with other fabrics and thus contributes to a wide range of fabrics each unique in its properties.
● It is easily dyed and retains the dye quickly and well.
● It is abrasion and pilling resistant and does not lose its properties easily.
● It wicks the moisture well.
● It is machine washed easily with no particular care to be made to do so.
Last but not the least, lycra fabrics are bacteria resistant and can block ultraviolet radiation well, this attribute making them popular fabrics to wear outdoors.
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