Difference Between Lycra and Spandex

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: May 27, 2023

       

Difference Between Lycra and Spandex

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Introduction

A decent outfit should not only look beautiful and be of an excellent standard, but it should fit effectively. While common clothing fabrics like polyester, nylon, cotton, wool, and others are already pleasant to touch and wear as you go with your day, they occasionally need a little assistance to provide a comfortable solution. Many people are completely uninformed about what Lycra is and how it varies from Spandex. They employ one phrase indiscriminately when the other term is more appropriate. How do you know which is which, though? To put it solely, Lycra and Spandex are the same things.

Difference between Lycra and Spandex in Tabular Form

PointersSpandexLycra
Other namesElastane, SpandexElastane, Lycra
CompositionPolyether-polyurea copolymerPolyether-polyurea copolymer
BreathabilityHigh breathabilityModerate breathability
StretchabilityHighly stretchableHighly stretchable
The country which produced the productUnited StatesUnited States
Biggest marketChinaChina
Washing temperatureWarmLukewarm
UsageStretch pants, yoga pants, slim jeans, undergarments, bras, socks, and motion capture suits are all examples of athletic apparel.Motion capture suits, underpants, hosiery, undergarments, activewear, cycling shorts, gym shorts, hiking clothing

Lycra Fabric

Lycra is a marketing term for elastane, an artificial fabric with high elasticity. Notwithstanding their various names, Lycra, spandex, and elastane are all the same fabric that can stretch up to 5-8 times its original size. The DuPont Corporation produced this fabric in the 1950s, yet it would not exist if IG Farben had not devised polyurethane in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Polyurethane is currently the basis material for a variety of plastics, and Lycra is manufactured using the same basic chemical synthesis procedures as other polyurethane-based plastic materials.

Like other polyurethane materials, Lycra fabric is a polymer, which implies it is made up of linear chains of monomers bonded by a unique sort of acid. Lycra, unlike many synthetic textiles, is extremely stable at high temperatures, and it was rapidly recognized as a great complement to thermal synthetics such as polyester and nylon. This alliance between German academics and DuPont's huge industrial power resulted in various valuable inventions, including Lycra, which has significantly impacted the global economy and consumer lifestyles in rich and developing countries. Lycra and similar fibers are still quite popular worldwide, and even though this type of fabric can have large adverse environmental impacts when it is manufactured, its popularity is unlikely to wane in the nearish future.

Process of making Lycra Fabric

Lycra is a synthetic fiber, meaning that all of its components are manufactured in a lab. While many of the fundamental parts needed to make the chemicals in Lycra fabric have organic beginnings, they have been created and rehashed to the point that they have no link to organic substances by the point they are made into Lycra fibers.

Lycra can be made in four different ways; however, most have been abandoned. While select firms still use reaction spinners, solution moist twirling, and melt extraction to generate elastane products, solution dry spinning accounts for over 95% of global Lycra manufacturing.

The prepolymer that serves as the foundation ingredient of Lycra is created by combining macro glycol and a diisocyanate monomer. The solution is then exposed to precisely calibrated quantities of heat and pressure, which initiates the chemical reaction that results in the prepolymer. The prepolymer will not develop if the volume ratio between these two components is out of equilibrium, and in most situations, a ratio of 1:2 is recorded. After that, the prepolymer is subjected to diamine acid, which causes a chemical reaction known as chain extrusion. Because the substance formed by this interaction is dense and viscous to the point of becoming sludge-like, a solvent is employed to thin it and make it easier to work with. The thinned solution is then put into a fiber production cell, which is a cylindrical machine. The fiber output cell of this machine has a specialized form of the spinneret, and after the solution is filled, the fiber production cell starts spinning, forcing the fluid through the separator. The solution emerges from the spinneret as fibers. However, these fibers must still be subjected to heated nitrogen and solvent gas solutions before transitioning from liquid to solid. The fibers can then be extruded first from cylindrical spinning cells and shaped into filaments using a compressed air device once they have solidified. The filaments are also twisted by high-pressure air, and the resulting yarn can be made in a range of sizes to meet the diverse uses of Lycra in the consumer textile sector. Lycra yarn must still be contacted to a refining chemical such as magnesium stearate or a comparable polymer before it can leave the plant and be woven into fabric. Finally, the Lycra yarn is wound onto a huge spool and delivered to a textile manufacturing plant.

Usage of Lycra Fabric

Lycra is a synthetic fiber that is used in a wide range of consumer fabrics. The extraordinary elasticity of Lycra fabric has been identified as extremely attractive in specific consumer fashion sectors since the early days of its manufacturing, yet elastane materials are rarely marketed on their own.

Instead, this fabric is generally woven into other types of textiles to increase mobility massively. When a small amount of spandex is woven into fabrics like polyester, cotton, or wool, they become significantly more elastic. Clothing producers should remember that elastane can stretch up to eight times its original size when evaluating the enhanced elasticity that will be noticeable in materials after it is added. As a result, adding 10% spandex to an otherwise hard material should allow it to stretch to nearly twice its initial dimensions.

This fabric is also widely seen in the waistbands of sweatpants, loungewear, and any other sorts of flexible underwear or bottoms. Lycra is utilized in most forms of socks, aside from straps; without it, socks would be substantially less stretchable, so they're more difficult to put on and off. Furthermore, Lycra is found in practically every sort of sportswear. Clothing that is worn while biking, hiking, or swimming is typically meant to ride near to the skin, and elastane allows these garments to be snug without causing irritation.

Spandex fabric

Spandex is a supple artificial fiber known for its fluidity. Contrary to widespread misconception, "spandex" is not a brand name; rather, it is a generic term for polyether-polyurea copolymer fabrics created using a number of manufacturing procedures. Spandex, Lycra, and elastane are all interchangeable names. This cloth is often used in form-fitting commercial apparel since it can stretch up to 5-8 times its original size. Small amounts of spandex are woven into other artificial, quasi, or organic fibers in most circumstances, rather than using pure spandex in clothes. Despite the fact that Spandex is not turned into plastics like nylon, it does have a place with at least one commercial use. Motion capture suits are meant to attach to every part of the body and worn by actors in the film business on occasion. When used in front of a green screen, motion capture suits allow filmmakers to insert three-dimensional characters that appear extraordinarily convincing.

DuPont sought to develop a novel polymer fabric with excellent elasticity using polyurethane research. During the research process, DuPont scientists referred to this fabric as "spandex;" once finished, it was offered under the brand name Lycra, but consumers preferred to refer to it as "spandex," and it was this phrase that acquired the popular lexicon to describe these textiles. Like other macromolecules, Spandex is made up of repeated monomer chains bound together by an acid. It was discovered early on in the spandex development process that this material is very heat-resistant, which implies that fabrics that are famously heat-sensitive, such as nylon and polyester, benefit from the addition of spandex thread.

Process of making Spandex fabric

There are no organic components in spandex because it is a wholly synthetic textile. Instead, all of the components of this fiber are created in a factory and then mixed under precise stimuli to produce spandex fabric. A number of different methods for producing elastane have arisen in the years since its creation. Some of these technologies are more efficient than others, and some have been abandoned over time, such as reaction churning, melt projection, and wet turning solutions. A technology called solution dry churning is now used to make nearly 95 percent of the world's spandex, and it is this manufacturing technique that we shall look at in depth.

A chemical called macro glycol is combined with a diisocyanate monomer under precise heat and pressure to start the spandex fabric manufacturing process. To get the required results, the thermal conditions must be perfect, and the macro glycol and diisocyanate monomer ratio must be around 1:2. When the necessary circumstances are met, a substance known as a prepolymer is created, which is then utilized in the rest of the manufacturing process. After the prepolymer has been created, it is subjected to diamine acid, which triggers a chemical reaction known as a chain expansion reaction. Because the resulting product is extremely viscous, it must be diluted with a solvent before proceeding to the next stage. The prepolymer is placed into a fiber production cell or a cylindrical spinning cell when it is flat enough to weave with. A spinneret, a gadget with dozens of small holes, is located inside this machine. The prepolymer solution is driven through these holes as the fiber manufacturing cell rotates, taking the form of fabric strands. When these strands escape from the spinneret, they are still in a liquid form, and they are subsequently subjected to hot solvent gas and nitrogen to stiffen them. These solid fibers are subsequently forced out of the cylindrical spinning cell, where they twist into strands when exposed to compressed air. This compressed air can be formed into strands of various sizes. Finally, the spandex fiber is dipped in a finishing agent such as magnesium stearate or a compound comparable to it. It's ready to be woven into the fabric after it's fed onto a spindle.

Usage of Spandex fabric

Spandex fabric can be found in any commercial or industrial application requiring mobility. This sort of fabric has grown in popularity since its debut, and it can now be found in thousands of various types of clothes and is utilized by consumers all over the world. Pure spandex fabric can be used to construct extremely stretchy or form-fitting clothes in some instances. However, because this fabric is relatively expensive, purchasers of professional clothing who utilize it will pay a high price for them. Instead, spandex fabric is more commonly woven into other types of fabrics.

When spandex is bonded to cotton, for example, it becomes much more elastic, and spandex can also be used to provide elasticity to typically hard materials like polyester. Because spandex can expand up to eight times its initial dimensions, the elasticity conferred by integrating this material to other fibers can be measured by dividing its stretching capacity by the percentage where it is incorporated in clothing. Form-fitting materials are the most prevalent application for spandex. For example, it is found in a variety of men's and women's underwear, and even if it isn't found in the main fabric of an underwear garment, it is often found in the drawstring. In fact, practically every form of stretch garment has a waistband made of spandex fabric. Cotton and wool socks also contain a significant amount of spandex. This fabric is used in socks to enable them to stay on your feet and to make donning and removing socks easier. This cloth is often used in athletic apparel. Wearing clothing that rides near the skin is crucial in most forms of athletic endeavors. Hence spandex fabric is utilized in swimming, biking attire, and other types of good squad sports clothing. Finally, spandex fabric is occasionally employed in industrial settings. For example, motion control suits, which are specific types of leotards that performers wear in front of green screens, are made within the film business. By ensuring that these outfits ride close to the bodies of actors, spandex enables us to create realistic 3D characters.

Conclusion

Lycra, Spandex, and comparable fabrics may be eligible for Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification in certain instances. DuPont has not pursued this type of accreditation for its Lycra trademark, but a number of other companies throughout the world have done their utmost to create their spandex products using only recyclable materials. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that repurposed spandex is just as detrimental to the environment as pure spandex.

References

  • https://sewport.com/fabrics-directory/lycra-fabric
  • https://sewport.com/fabrics-directory/spandex-fabric

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"Difference Between Lycra and Spandex." Diffzy.com, 2024. Thu. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.diffzy.com/article/difference-between-lycra-and-spandex-1216>.



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