Get to know Lycra fiber
"Lycra" is the transliteration of the English word LYCRA. As a spandex elastic fiber, it is a block molecular segment polyurethane composed of a flexible segment and a rigid segment. It was successfully researched by Bayer of Germany in 1937, and DuPont of the United States began to produce it in 1959. It is a registered trademark of DuPont's spandex fiber. Due to its many advantages and good quality recognized by peers, as long as Lycra clothing is used, there will be a triangle hang tag, which has become a symbol of high quality.
The difference between spandex and Lycra
1. Lycra is a kind of spandex, but spandex is not necessarily Lycra
Lycra has better performance than ordinary spandex. It has a special chemical structure, and it will not grow mold in a humid and heat-sealed space after wet water.
2. Spandex is a polymer elastic fiber
Spandex, also known as polyurethane fiber, has advantages that other fibers cannot match, such as: light specific gravity, high breaking strength, high elongation at break, good elastic recovery, etc.
3. Lycra stretches up to 500% and can return to its original shape
The stretchability of Lycra is far superior to that of traditional elastic fibers. It can be stretched very easily, and it can still cling to the surface of the human skin after recovery, with little binding force on the human body.
Characteristics of Lycra fiber
1. Wide range of fiber fineness
Lycra fiber fineness ranges from 22 to 4778 dtex, and the thinnest rubber filament is 156 dtex. Since Lycra has a more uniform tension during the weaving process than other elastic fibers, the fabric containing Lycra has good flatness and is soft to the touch.
2. Higher strength and elongation
The strength of Lycra is 2~4 times that of rubber silk. Because Lycra has greater elasticity than rubber yarn under the same elongation, the fabric containing Lycra has higher elasticity.
3. High temperature resistance
Stretch fabrics are generally made of a small amount of elastic fibers mixed with other fibers. The heat setting and dyeing of conventional synthetic fibers must undergo high temperature heat treatment, so the elastic fiber for blending must also withstand high temperature heat treatment. The heat setting temperature of Lycra silk can reach 195°C, while the maximum heat setting temperature of other brands of elastic fibers is 180~185°C. Therefore, under the same high temperature conditions, the elongation and resilience of Lycra-containing fabrics are more advantageous than other elastic fabrics.
4. Low washing shrinkage and growth rate
The washing shrinkage and growth rate of fabrics are the main factors affecting the dimensional stability and wrinkle resistance of garments, and are also important indicators reflecting the deformation of fabrics and garments. The washing shrinkage and growth rate are low, indicating that the garment has good shape retention and the fabric is not easy to deform and wrinkle.
5. Good stretchability and resilience
Appropriate recovery and retention give elastic fabrics comfortable stretchability, shape retention, fit, and formability. Lycra can be stretched to a length 7 times longer than the original without breaking; the retractability is also very good, when the elongation is 50%, the retraction rate is greater than 99%; when the elongation is 200%, the retraction rate is 97%; even if stretched When the length is 500%, its retraction rate is also above 90%. The shrinkage rate is related to the thickness of the yarn, the thicker the yarn, the greater the resilience.
6. Can be dyed
Lycra can be dyed with acid, metal complex, reactive and disperse dyes, while rubber silk is not easy to dye.
7. Anti-aging and not easy to yellow
Fabrics or processed garments containing spandex filaments will turn yellow after repeated use or washing over time, while the elastic blanks containing Lycra have been placed for three months, and their whiteness is much better than other spandex fabrics, and the whiteness remains It is 10%~20% better than ordinary products, and has better anti-aging properties.
8. Good wear resistance
In the elongation range of 50%~300%, the fatigue test is done 200 times per minute, and it can withstand more than 1 million times without breaking, while the rubber only has 240,000 times.
9. Good resistance to light and chlorine
Lycra is exposed to light fastness tester for 40 hours, and its strength is reduced by about 20%. The rubber silk is irradiated in the same way, causing aging and losing all the strength.
Lycra has a certain resistance to general chemicals, but it is relatively sensitive to chlorine (such as NaClO bleach), which makes the fiber yellow and damage, making it lose its elasticity and extensibility, which is one of its main shortcomings. Relatively stable to oxygen-containing bleaching agents.
Wide use of Lycra
Lycra mainly appears in the form of core-spun yarn/wrapped yarn/covered yarn and bare yarn in fabrics. It has good dyeing performance and wearability, and has been widely used in various fields of textile product production. Its application in the apparel industry is also very common, from light underwear to heavy outerwear, from sportswear to fashion suits and so on.
1. Different fineness of Lycra can be applied in different fields
The fineness range of Lycra fiber is 22~4778 dtex, Lycra with different fineness can be used in different fields.
Transparent stockings: 11~44 dtex;
Weft knitted fabric: 22~195 dtex;
Warp knitted fabric: 22~78 dtex;
Woven fabric: 44~156 dtex;
Leggings socks: 78~156 dtex;
Warp knitted fabrics for bras: 156~540 dtex;
Narrow belt, belt: 156~1880 dtex;
Medical items: 156~1880 dtex;
Footwear: 620~940 dtex.
2. Lycra has different functions in different fabrics
Lycra has excellent stretch. For knitwear, its multi-directional extension is determined by the fabric itself, and what Lycra brings is only the elasticity of stretching and recovery. Woven fabrics are stretchable only in the direction in which Lycra is woven into, such as warp knitting (straight direction) or weft knitting (horizontal direction).
In woven fabrics: Lycra is used for warp yarns, and the fabric has elongation in the longitudinal direction; for weft yarns, the fabric has transverse elasticity; Lycra is used in both warp and weft yarns, and the fabric has two-way elasticity.
In knitted fabrics: Lycra bare silk is used for light jersey in weft knitted fabrics; Lycra covered yarn is used for socks, cuffs of knitted pullovers, etc.; Needle knitted fabrics; wrapped yarns are often used in ribbed knitted fabrics. The use of Lycra in warp knitted fabrics is mainly to increase the extensibility of the fabric, so that the clothing has excellent applicability and comfort.
In tape fabrics: tape fabrics are widely used in underwear and belts. Lycra provides the high-performance stretch of the tape fabric for durability and comfort. It can be used to produce decorative tapes for thin and delicate modern ultra-light lingerie, improving and maintaining its shape and shape.
Advantages of Lycra in clothing
1. Good stretchability and elasticity, not easy to deform
Lycra is composed of spandex fibers, which enhance the fabric's elasticity, and can be combined with a variety of different fibers, whether natural or man-made, without changing the look and feel of the fabric. For example, wool + Lycra fabrics have good elasticity, and have better fit, shape retention, drape and washability, etc.; cotton + Lycra not only has the advantages of comfort and breathability of cotton fibers, but also takes into account the advantages that cotton does not have. The characteristics of good elasticity and non-deformation make the fabric more close-fitting, fit, soft and comfortable. Lycra can add unique advantages to clothing, such as next-to-skin comfort, freedom of movement and long-term shape retention.
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2. Lycra can be used in any fabric
Lycra fabrics are used in a wide range of applications, generally not used alone, but in combination with other fabrics, and can be used in any fabric, such as: cotton knitted fabric, double-sided wool fabric, silk poplin, nylon fabric and different cotton fabrics, etc.
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3. The comfort of Lycra
Lycra fabric has good stretchability, does not make people feel oppressed and uncomfortable, and it is soft, comfortable and breathable when combined with cotton, knitted and other fabrics. Wearing clothing containing Lycra fiber, it is comfortable to fit and move freely, which realizes the unity of dressing appropriateness and comfort, and meets people's needs for clothing in contemporary society.
4. The influence of Lycra on style
Clothing styles made of Lycra fabric are beautiful and diverse. After adding Lycra to the clothes, the close-fitting clothing will not be tight; the clothing can be opened and closed, fit without restraint, and has better drapability; children's clothing is full of vitality and can be jumped after wearing freely. Even well-crafted suits and coats don’t feel tight or cramped, and knit fabrics like undershirts, underwear, and gym pants that incorporate Lycra fit and feel comfortable, and can stretch and move when you want.
5. The design features of Lycra
Whether it is a loose or slim design, it is comfortable and natural to wear; it has good drapability, no wrinkles, and it will not be too loose, and it fits perfectly, fully reflecting the simple and generous aesthetic feeling.
In 2012, with the establishment of textile production factory, Letswin Textile had used high-end spinning equipment from Switzerland, Italy and other countries, and the main business includes lycra yarn, spandex covered yarn, rubber silk covered thread, ribbon, elastic webbing and lace research and development, production and sales. The average annual production and sales of spandex covered yarn are more than 900 tons, and the average annual sales of spandex are more than 8000 tons. Other categories also achieved good performance.
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