What is Lycra elastane?
Elastane, also known as lycra or spandex, is a synthetic fibre resulting from the reaction of two pre-polymers. These are macro glycol, more flexible, and diisocyanate, more rigid.
It is mainly used to provide greater elasticity to clothing items. It's important to note that it's not a fabric but a filament. Furthermore, it is very common to see it combined with other materials like cotton or polyester.
We will never see it alone, as this would result in garments that are not breathable and uncomfortable. This doesn't mean it isn't used in high percentages, as in the case of some sports shirts, as it improves mobility and favours any sport discipline.
The difference between spandex and lycra is that, while the former is the technical term for the material, the latter is the commercial name given by the DuPont company. It would be like calling all types of cars “Ford”.
Origin of Spandex cloth material
It was invented by chemist Joseph Shivers in 1958 while working at DuPont. The American company patented the discovery of this material in the same year, under the name Lycra. It emerged during the search for a synthetic substitute for natural rubber, as it had an unstable price and, due to World War II, most rubber had been used in equipment construction.
In the 1940s, the first polyurethane elastomers were produced, which served as a substitute for rubber due to their elasticity. However, it wasn't until 1962 that DuPont began producing this new material on a large scale. Today, it is the world leader in the production of these fibres.
What is Lycra and spandex used for in clothing? What uses can it have?
Lycra has a significant presence in the textile sector. It is used to create fabrics combined with other natural or synthetic fibres, providing a softer feel and greater volume to the fabric.
Mainly, it is used in flexible clothing where comfort and better adaptation are sought. It also presents great lightness.
This, together with the other characteristics already mentioned, makes it widely used in sportswear.
It is important to consider that, since the result of the fabric is the result of the combination of elastane with other components, sometimes the listed properties may vary depending on the quantity of each filament contained in the garment.
What products can we find made from this type of spandex material fabric?
As mentioned earlier, spandex fabric is mainly used in the sports world to make all kinds of clothing, as it favours a better fit to the body, such as personalized t-shirts, leggings, or jackets.
It is common to find this fibre also in underwear products, and it is not surprising, as it favours comfort. Furthermore, we can find many other promotional items such as mobile phone bracelets, waist bags, or touchscreen gloves.
What benefits does lycra fabric offer?
To speak of the benefits of Lycra, as often happens, it is best to talk about its properties. Undoubtedly, what characterizes it most and its greatest advantage is its flexibility: generally, no matter how much it is stretched, it will return to its initial state. But this is not its only positive point.
It has a quick drying, as it has no absorption capacity, moreover, fabrics containing this material are much more resistant and durable. It is light and pleasant to the touch. However, it retains odours much more than other fabrics. But at least it is easy to wash and also allows cleaning at high temperatures up to 60°C.
