Spandex 1

Spandex

Volleyball player Cynthia Barboza wearing spandex shorts

Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fiberknown for its exceptional elasticity. It isstrong, but less durable than its majornon-synthetic competitor, natural Latex. It isa polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that wasinvented in 1959 by chemists C. L.Sandquist and Joseph Shivers at DuPont'sBenger Laboratory in Waynesboro,Virginia. When first introduced, itrevolutionized many areas of the clothingindustry.

The name "spandex" is an anagram of theword "expands".[1] It is the preferred namein North America; in many Europeancountries it is referred to as "elastane", andis known in Britain mainly as Lycra. Brandnames for spandex include Lycra (made byInvista, previously a part of DuPont), Elaspan (also Invista), Creora (Hyosung), ROICA and Dorlastan (AsahiKasei), Linel (Fillattice), and ESPA (Toyobo).

Spandex fibers production

Spandex fiber

Spandex fibers are produced in four different ways: melt extrusion,reaction spinning, solution dry spinning, and solution wet spinning. All ofthese methods include the initial step of reacting monomers to produce aprepolymer. Once the prepolymer is formed, it is reacted further invarious ways and drawn out to make the fibers. The solution dry spinningmethod is used to produce over 94.5% of the world's spandex fibers.[2]

Solution dry spinning

Step 1: The first step is to produce the prepolymer. This is done by mixinga macroglycol with a diisocyanate monomer. The two compounds aremixed in a reaction vessel to produce a prepolymer. A typical ratio ofglycol to diisocyanate is 1:2.[2]

Step 2: The prepolymer is further reacted with an equal amount ofdiamine. This reaction is known as chain extension reaction. Theresulting solution is diluted with a solvent to produce the spinningsolution. The solvent helps make the solution thinner and more easilyhandled, and then it can be pumped into the fibre production cell.

Step 3: The spinning solution is pumped into a cylindrical spinning cell where it is cured and converted into fibres.In this cell, the polymer solution is forced through a metal plate called a spinneret. This causes the solution to bealigned in strands of liquid polymer. As the strands pass through the cell, they are heated in the presence of anitrogen and solvent gas. This process causes the liquid polymer to react chemically and form solid strands.[2]

Spandex 2

Cyclist wearing a pair of spandex shorts and acycling jersey

Spandex leggings as casual wear

Step 4: As the fibres exit the cell, an amount of solid strands arebundled together to produce the desired thickness. Each fibre ofspandex is made up of many smaller individual fibres that adhere toone another due to the natural stickiness of their surface.[2]

Step 5: The resulting fibres are then treated with a finishing agentwhich can be magnesium stearate or another polymer. This treatmentprevents the fibres' sticking together and aids in textile manufacture.The fibres are then transferred through a series of rollers onto a spool.

Step 6: When the spools are filled with fibre, they are put into finalpackaging and shipped to textile manufacturers.

Major spandex fibre uses

• Apparel and clothing articles where stretch is desired, generallyfor comfort and fit, such as:

•• athletic, aerobic, and exercise apparel•• belts• bra straps and side panels•• competitive swimwear• dance belts worn by male ballet dancers and others•• gloves•• hosiery•• leggings• netball bodysuits•• orthopaedic brace• ski pants•• skinny jeans•• slacks•• miniskirts• socks• swimsuits/bathing suits•• underwear• wetsuits•• zentai

• Compression garments such as:•• cycling shorts•• foundation garments•• motion capture suits•• rowing unisuit

•• Shaped garments such as bra cups•• support hose•• surgical hose•• superhero•• women's volleyball shorts•• wrestling singlet

• Home furnishings, such as microbead pillows

Spandex 3

Wrestlers wearing spandex

A contortionist wearing spandex

For clothing, spandex is usually mixed with cotton or polyester, andaccounts for a small percentage of the final fabric, which thereforeretains most of the look and feel of the other fibers. In North Americait is rare in men's clothing, but prevalent in women's. An estimated80% of clothing sold in the United States contained spandex in2010.[3]

References

Notes[1] Kadolph,Sara J., Textiles.[2] "How spandex is made" (http:/ / www. madehow. com/ Volume-4/ Spandex. html)

from How Products Are Made[3] Marisa Penaloza (2011-12-11). "Spandex Stretches To Meet U.S. Waistlines"

(http:/ / www. npr. org/ templates/ transcript/ transcript. php?storyId=143003539).NPR. . Retrieved 2012-01-17.

External links

• freepatentsonline.com (http:/ / www. freepatentsonline. com/2929804. pdf)

• pubs.acs.org (http:/ / pubs. acs. org/ cen/ whatstuff/ stuff/7707scitek4. html)

Article Sources and Contributors 4

Article Sources and ContributorsSpandex  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=495052558  Contributors: 4ing, A Man In Black, ASmartKid, Aboalbiss, Ace Frahm, Acssm, Agathoclea, Ahpook, Airconswitch,AirdishStraus, AishaBoue, Alansohn, Aleenf1, Alexius08, AlmostReadytoFly, Alpha 4615, Altenmann, Andrew73, Andros 1337, Anetode, Antandrus, Appraiser, Areaseven, AvicAWB,AxelBoldt, Bardsandwarriors, Bearadise, Beetstra, Beland, Beyond My Ken, Bill Bei, Bob.williams, Bobo192, Bongwarrior, Brendanmccabe, Bryan Derksen, Btarunr, Bujhm, Bzqtmg, CWii,Calvin 1998, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Captain Weirdo the Great, Chaheel Riens, ChemGardener, Chesterburnett10, Chintu rohit, Chowbok, Chris the speller, Chrislk02, Christopherlin,Chubbles, Closedmouth, Cloudo, Cmprince, Coemgenus, CompuHacker, CoolKoon, CrazedEwok, Cricher, Crossfire17, Crusoe8181, Cybercobra, DD2K, DanMS, Daniel Quinlan, Darkfred,Dawgfan389, Defsac, Delirium, Demainneviendra, Devannielsen, Dina, Dinesh smita, Discospinster, Djinn112, Dlohcierekim, DocWatson42, Dominick, Drmies, Dspradau, Dureo, Earle Martin,Earlypsychosis, Eddgaard, Edgar181, Eggilicious, Emoscopes, Erik Kennedy, Eu.stefan, Face, Fg2, Firsfron, Flubberdubberdash, Frecklefoot, Freddybeddyteddy, Freemarlie, FreplySpang,GVOLTT, Gam3, Gilula, Gogo Dodo, Gortu, GraemeL, Graue, GregStevens1967, Guanaco, Gwalla, Gwernol, Hadlock, Hailey C. Shannon, Harry, Hebrides, Hede2000, Heegoop, Hephaestos,Hiroyuki0904, Hongooi, IceUnshattered, Imoen, Inkington, Insanity Incarnate, Intgr, Islandco, ItsJames, ItsZippy, Ixfd64, J.delanoy, JFG, JForget, JJ Harrison, Jan eissfeldt, Jeepday,JethroElfman, Jevansen, Jez8989, Jim10701, John, JohnBoy1861, Jorge Stolfi, Jossi, Jovianeye, Jrkarp, Julesd, Julian Birdbath, KaHOnas, Karada, Karafias, KdubbG, Klassykittychick, Krushia,Ld100, Literary Fiction, Lmblackjack21, Loggie, Lotje, LovePatsyCline, Lowellian, Lupo, MER-C, Markwhitear123, Martin451, MattTM, Mattarata, Mauls, Mazeau, McGeddon, MegX,Methecooldude, Mikeywikip, Miniroll32, Misiu mp, Miyagawa, Mmxx, Modernist, Moez, Mpetch, Mrstonky, Nastajus, Neal00, Neilbeach, Newskk, Newton2, Newyorkcatwhite, Nicole A.Jenkins, Noisy, Nuujinn, OrbitOne, Ostinato2, PKM, Pascal.Tesson, Petarock10, Phuzion, Piano non troppo, Plinkit, Plutonium27, Polimerek, Polly, Polyparadigm, Premeditated Chaos,PubliusFL, Qxz, Radiojon, RainbowOfLight, Ratarsed, Raymond, Recurring dreams, RedHillian, Rob T Firefly, Rockhopper10r, Sam Blacketer, Samw, SarekOfVulcan, Sauroneru,SchfiftyThree, SchuminWeb, SchwartzPadre, SeanWillard, Seddon, Shaddack, Shanes, Shredrider69, Silverchemist, Sjschen, Skarebo, Skyler Kanegi, Slimtrimm22, SoCalSuperEagle, Sonicfeet,SpaceFlight89, Spoonhead, SpuriousQ, Stephenb, Stevegallery, Stewacide, StuHarris, SusanWay, Swimmerz, TJ Spyke, Tabletop, Tannin, Taxwoman, Teles, Textiles55, The Anome, Thenoobsauce, TheBronson, Themcman1, Thetruthisoutthere975, Thingg, ThinkBlue, Tohd8BohaithuGh1, TomPhil, Tombomp, Tommy2010, Tomsole, Travelbird, UberScienceNerd,Unregistered.coward, VMS Mosaic, Valroo, Veinor, VernoWhitney, Versus22, Vivio Testarossa, Vuo, Warner Sandquist, Wfilwibg1, WikHead, Woodsja, Wormser, Xavierob, Xezbeth,Xnatedawgx, YahoKa, Zinnmann, 484 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Cynthia Barboza.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cynthia_Barboza.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Rachel Boettcher, U.S. Air ForceFile:Spandex fiber.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Spandex_fiber.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0  Contributors: Luigi ChiesaFile:Spandex biker by Ed Yourdon.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Spandex_biker_by_Ed_Yourdon.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors: Ed YourdonFile:UnJeansLeggings crop.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:UnJeansLeggings_crop.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:User:Beyond My Ken, User:RSMDistFile:Wrestlers in spandex.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wrestlers_in_spandex.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors: HyCrutchett aka Crotchsplay on Flickr.File:Zentai lycra.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Zentai_lycra.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported  Contributors: User:Schimmer

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