How Spandex Is Used in Knitted Fabrics

Update:12 Jan

Using Spandex to produce knitted fabrics has become a common practice in the garment industry. These fabrics are used to create foundation garments and support hosiery. They are also used to make knits for sportswear, swimwear, and leotards. Often, elastic fibers are added to the main fibre content to increase the amount of stretch.

These fabrics are usually made with a blend of fibres, such as latex or polyester, that give them a great deal of give. They also come in different thicknesses. For instance, a typical stretch knit is about as thick as a sweatshirt fleece. Compared to woven fabrics, these knits tend to offer much more stretch.

Spandex is a cool and lightweight material that absorbs very little moisture. It is also quick-drying and can be easily laundered. Its fibres are generally white with a dull lustre. They are prone to yellowing in the presence of chlorine bleach. In addition, they are less fast to dye than hard fibers.

Spandex yarns can be used in both weft and interlacement yarns. To make a knitted fabric, two yarns are interlaced. The yarns are then fed to a knitting needle. The result is a loop in the shape of a chain. The size and placement of these loops affect the fabric's strength and flexibility. It is important that the knitted fabric has an even distribution of the spandex in both yarns.The amount of Spandex consumed and the properties of the knitted fabric are directly related. For example, a knit fabric with 50% stretch can stretch up to 15''. However, a fabric with 100% stretch can stretch up to 20''.

The elastic behaviour of a knitted fabric is important for body-fitted and comfortable garments. It is often a factor in the cost benefits of knitwear. It is also important to know how well the fabric recovers. Often, the fabric will rebound to its original shape when pulled, which gives better performance.The mechanical and dimensional stability of the knitted fabric is also affected by the externally applied forces. For example, the percentage of Elastane used in a knitwear fabric determines its comfort fit. It is also a factor in how the fabric reacts to body movements.

In a study, cyclic loading of a cotton/Spandex knitted fabric was performed under different initial extensions. The resulting fabric was then subjected to tests on various parameters. The results showed that the mechanical stretch of a knit fabric with 50% spandex was significantly different from that of a fabric with 10% spandex. This difference was particularly noticeable when the fabric was stretched to a width of 10''.

The fabric properties are also influenced by the input tension of the Spandex yarn and its linear density. In a knitted fabric, a combination of these factors is necessary for a fabric to be strong enough to support the load.In the present invention, a bright and beautiful spandex knitted fabric is achieved through a dyeing and finishing process. The dyeing process includes a pre-treatment step that determines the color of the yarn. Then, the fabric is dyed with a surfactant and acid levelling agent. This dyeing process also involves a functional aid. The use of this functional aid improves the vertical sense of the knitted fabric and increases its scrape resistance.