What You Should Know About Spandex Fabric

Spandex fabric is stretchy and durable, making it ideal for creating clothing that needs great flexibility. It can also be combined with other fabrics such as natural or man-made fibers to provide additional comfort and strength. Spandex has a wide variety of uses and can be found in many different types of garments, including hosiery and swimsuits.

The story of spandex began in World War II when engineers were looking for synthetic replacements for rubber. As they worked, they realized that women were emerging as a major consumer group and that they wanted girdles. In an effort to meet this demand, they developed a new type of fiber that could replace rubber and was also easy to sew. This new material was called polyurethane, or spandex.

Spandex is made through a complex process involving several chemicals and ingredients. There are two kinds of prepolymers used, a flexible macro glycol and a rigid diisocyanate. Both are reacted to produce the spandex fiber’s polymer backbone. The resulting compound is then treated with various dyes and textile colorants to give the spandex fiber its attractive shades. Stabilizers are also added to protect the integrity of the prepolymers. They can include compounds with tertiary amine functionality or ultraviolet (UV) screeners such as hydroxybenzotriazoles.

When choosing the right type of spandex for a project, it is important to know its recovery rate. This measure measures how much the fabric can stretch before it begins to lose its elasticity. High-quality spandex can stretch up to 7 times its original size before it starts losing its elasticity. It is also important to consider the color and thickness of the fabric when buying it, as these factors can impact its recovery rate.

It is also important to choose the correct thread for sewing with this fabric. Polyester thread works well with spandex, as it is stretchy and durable. When using a sewing machine, it is recommended to use a stretch stitch or a narrow zig-zag stitch to prevent snagging. Lastly, it is also essential to wash the fabric before using it as chlorine bleach and other harsh detergents can permanently damage the stretch.

Besides being durable and comfortable, spandex is also water-resistant. This makes it ideal for swimmers and other water sports enthusiasts. In addition, it is easy to clean and does not require ironing. It can be washed in cold or warm water and is resistant to both acid and alkaline.

In general, it is a good idea to use an anti-mildew spray to keep the spandex clean. This spray can be sprayed directly onto the spandex and is available in most home improvement stores. The spray is typically designed to work with both synthetic and organic fibers and is safe for use in both hot and cold water. It is also compatible with most laundry detergents. It is also abrasion-resistant and does not have the odor of some other cleaning products. This makes it a more environmentally-friendly choice than other cleaning products.

BLOSSOM PRINTED KNITTED FABRIC HT045-12