You may have heard of polyester, acrylic and other fabrics, but you may be unfamiliar with spandex. In fact, spandex is also widely used in the field of clothing, such as the tights we wear and sportswear. Many clothes and even shoe soles are made of spandex. So what exactly is spandex and what are its advantages and disadvantages? Today I will help you uncover the mystery of spandex.
What kind of fabric is spandex:
Spandex has extremely high elongation, so it is also called elastic fiber. In addition, it has similar physical properties to natural latex silk, but it is more resistant to chemical degradation and has general thermal stability and softening properties. When the temperature is higher than 200 degrees Celsius, spandex fabric can withstand sweat and salt, but the fabric is prone to fading after exposure to the sun.
The biggest feature of spandex is its extremely strong elasticity, which can be stretched up to 5 to 8 times without damaging the fiber. Generally, spandex needs to be blended with other fibers. It cannot be knitted alone, and most of them will account for less than 10%. For swimwear, the proportion of spandex in the blend will account for 20%.
Advantages of spandex fabric:
As mentioned earlier, it has excellent extensibility, so the shape retention of the fabric will be very good. The spandex fabric will not leave wrinkles after folding.
Although it is not as soft as cotton, the overall feel is okay. The fabric is also very comfortable after wearing and is very suitable for producing close-fitting clothes.
Spandex is a type of chemical fiber. It has properties such as acid and alkali resistance and aging resistance.
Good dyeing performance also prevents the spandex fabric from fading under normal use
Disadvantages of spandex fabric:
The main disadvantage of spandex which has poor hygroscopicity. Therefore, its comfort level is not as good as that of natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and silk.
Spandex cannot be used alone. It is usually blended with other fabrics according to the purpose of the fabric.
Its heat resistance is relatively poor.
Spandex maintenance tips:
Although spandex is sweat-resistant and salt-resistant, it should not be soaked for a long time or washed at high temperatures, otherwise fiber damage will occur. Therefore, when washing fabrics, they should be washed in cold water. It can be hand washed or machine washed. There are no special requirements for the washing liquid. After washing, just hang it in a cool place to avoid direct exposure to the sun.
Spandex fabric is not easily deformed and has stable chemical properties. It can be worn and stored normally. If not worn for a long time, the wardrobe must be kept in a ventilated and dry environment.
