Schiesser Lexicon - Synthetic Man-made Fibers - elastane

ELASTANE

General Information

Elastane, discovered in Germany in 1937, has properties that has no examples in nature. Its most important characteristic is an exceptional elasticity. Elastane can be stretched up 4 to 7 times its original length, and once released, returns back to its original length. Therefore, elastane threads have the highest stretching elasticity of all textile raw materials.
Compared with rubber, elastane is more tearproof and durable, and has one to 3 times higher elasticity with one-third the weight.

Lycra® (Invista) and Dorlastan® (Bayer) are ,,segemented Polyurethane”. This means, the molecular structure is built through longer, moveable, soft segments (WS), that detach from relatively short, harder segments (HS) in contsant progression.

Lycra® and Dorlastan® are manufactured in a wide rnage of yarn counts. Dorlastan® from 17 to 1280 dtex, Lycra® even from 11—2500 dtex.

Further Properties

- cater for a durable correct fit
- offer a pleasurable wear comfort thanks to its higher elasticity
- cater for durable deformation resistance
- are extremely durable
- are particularly easy to clean

Processing

Lycra® and Dorlastan® are never processed alone. These good properties are always combined with natural or synthetic fibres. There are two principle processing methods.

1. The pure elastane threads are enwound and braided with non-elastic natural or synthetic fibers

2. The hard elastane threads are loosened or interweaved with other threads in a material.

In all yarn variations, Dorlastan® is used as the core and processed with other textile yarns so that the processing, scrub resistance and the textile character is improved. Fields of application for the enwound combination yearns are mostly weaving mills, knitting mills as well as the band and stocking industry.