What is Lycra Fiber?
Lycra is a very popular fiber. It is also known as spandex. Lycra is a man-made fiber which gain popularity for its special extra elasticity, stretchability, and fineness. It is used in blended fabric to impart stretchability and comfortless to cotton and polyester fabric.
Physical Properties of Lycra Fiber:
Properties of a fiber mainly classified like physical properties, chemical properties, thermal properties, and optical profile. Among these, physical properties are very significant for textile fibers as most of the applications and end uses depends upon it.
Here are some physical properties of Lycra fiber:
1. Elasticity: Elasticity is also known as extension property. Comfortability of the garments mostly depends on elasticity of the fibre. If a fibre has higher elasticity, it may have more comfortability and stretchability. Lycra fibre has special extended elasticity. It is actually used in fabric for imparting extra elasticity to the fabric. It can be stretched up to 05 times of its original length without losing its shape. That’s why it is used mostly in denim fabric and sportswears which imparts extra comfortability to the fabric.
2. Tenacity: Another important physical property is tenacity which is directly related to the durability and dimensional stability of the fabric. Lycra fiber holds good tenacity that means it has a property to withstand under a lot of tension and stress due to its high tenacity.
3. Recovery: Lycra fiber has excellent recovery property. It can gain its original shape after being stretched 500% of its original length without losing its shape. But the elastic recovery of the fabric composed of Lycra fiber consistently decreases with the use of the fabric. It decreases more on proportion with the percentage of Lycra fiber applied in the fabric.
4. Durability: It is most important for any types of fibre that how much durable is it. Lycra fiber has moderate durability. Though it can withstand at multiple washing and wearing, but it loses dimensional stability after a certain cycle of uses. The dimensional stability of the fiber depends upon the count, heat setting, and fabric composition.
5. Softness: besides durability sharpness is also important property for fabric. Sometimes there is a trade off between softness and durability of the fibres. Lycra fiber is very much soft. When it is applied to the blended fabric of polyester or cotton, it extends the comfortability and handle property. Even only 2-5% of Lycra in a fabric composition creates a considerable impact on the comfortability to wear.
6. Light weight: Weight of the fabric belated with the comfortability and application of the fabric. For example heavyweight fabrics are not suitable for sportswears and daily used apparels. Lycra fiber is very lightweight, making it ideal for use in clothing and sportswear.
7. Breathability: Lycra fibre is breathable, which means it allows air to circulate through the fabric. High air permability keeps the wearer cool and comfortable in hot weather. It helps to conduct heat and minimize the temperature generated at the inner portion of the fabric.
8. Moisture Content: Another important for party of a fibre is the absorbency of the fabric. Maybe determined in many ways like moisture content, moisture regain, wicking properties, etc. Lycra fiber has a good moisture absorbency and wicking property. Having good absorbency and wicking property enables it to absorb perspiration and moisture away from the skin, keeping the wearer dry and wearable in hot weather.
9. Ultra-Violate resistance: Fabrics are exposed to different types of rays like visible light, UV ray, sunlight, etc. Lycra fiber has excellent resistance to UV ray and sunlight. Hence it can withstand to the exposure of UV ray and protect the wearer from the harmful affects of UV rays.
10. Colorfastness: Fastness is very crucial property for any fabric. Due to poor fastest property, a fiber may loses its appearance and attractiveness. Lycra fiber has excellent color-fastness. Lycra fiber can retain its color even after multiple washes. So it is suitable for being applied in blended fabric that is very crucial for coloration and fastness properties.
11. Chemical resistance: Lycra fiber is resistant to most of the chemicals such as bleach, alkaline, etc which makes it easy cleaning with retaining it’s original attributes.
12. Heat sensitivity: It is heat-sensitive. This fiber may shrink or lose its elasticity if it is exposed to high temperature for a long period of time. It is very important to heat-setting the fabric composed of Lycra for better dimensional stability and proofing shrinkage.
13. Melting point: The melting point of lycra is higher that is around 250°C (482°F). It remains in the optimal melting point temperature of Man made fibers to be used as textile fiber.
Conclusion:
Lycra fiber has some unique characteristics that make it ideal for use in various applications. For example, Lycra fibre is often used in clothing and sportswear because of its excellent stretchability, moisture content, and wicking properties. It is also used in medical applications such as compression stockings and surgical garments because of its softness and comfort.
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Working as head of the dept. of Wet Process Engineering at Textile Engineering College, Zorargonj, Chattogram. He is also CEO at TEC Media and advisor at Textile Engineers Club. He hosts textile related online program ‘TEC Show’.