Spandex

Elastane in the North American regions, spandex, elastane in other countries, is a very stretchy synthetic fiber. It is similar to rubber, but has higher strength and is more durable.

The first fibers Spandex came in 1959 as Fibre K on the market after Joseph Shivers developed a method for large-scale production at the American chemical company DuPont. It was bonded multifilament yarn made ​​of polyurethane. From 1962 Fibre K was sold in large quantities under the brand name Lycra, which is held in Germany since January 28, 2005 by the company Invista. Two years later, the Bayer AG started with the production of Dorlastan, a multifilament yarn of polyester. Other trademarks are creora ( Hyosung ), Elaspan ( Invista ) and Linel ( Fillattice ).

The spellings spandex and Dorlasthan also exist.

Construction

Elastane is a block copolymer of the constituents of polyurethane and polyethylene glycol. The urethane is rigid, elongated sections that attach to each other along and allow through the establishment of Nebenvalenzkräften the cohesion of the fiber. The rubbery Polyalkoholblöcke (each about 40 to 50 monomer units), however, are strongly zusammengeknäult, but can easily be stretched. This combination of stiff and elastic blocks, the extremely high elongation of more than 700 % is achieved. After the German Textile Labelling Act referred to as a spandex fiber must be at least 85 % segmented polyurethane included.

Properties

  • Density between 1.1 and 1.3 g/cm3
  • Elongation between 500 and 700 %
  • Strength: 5-12 cN / tex ( low strength, but more durable than rubber)
  • High tensile length of 8-15 km
  • Low moisture absorption (1%)
  • Lasting dimensional stability
  • Light, soft, smooth and easily colorable
  • No charge
  • No pilling
  • Regularly washable up to 40 ° C ( recommended), exceptionally well at 60 ° C

Applications

Spandex is mainly used for clothing, which must be very elastic or accurately. Above all, it has therefore been established in sportswear, underwear and socks. For the sake of wearing comfort but it is always mixed with other fiber types ( for example: 80 % polyamide, 20 % elastane).

Examples of clothing with elastane can be found at:

  • Sports clothing (for example, leggings or shorts )
  • Tights
  • Cosmetic and medical stockings
  • Socks
  • Swimwear ( swimwear, swimsuits, bikinis, burkinis )
  • Water sports clothing ( surf shirts, rashguards, underwear, jellyfish protective suits )
  • Corsetry
  • Fetish Clothing ( catsuits, Zentai )

A particular application of spandex will be held in the magician scene: Here elastane fiber is sold as "ultra invisible thread", that is used as a particularly stretchy, invisible thread.

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