What is Lycra fabric? What is the difference between spandex and Lycra?

Friends who are interested in clothing fabrics must have heard of Lycra. Lycra fabric has a market monopoly in the spandex field. Lycra fabric has a very wide range of uses and can increase the comfort of fabrics or clothing.

Lycra fabric is made of spandex fiber (short for spandex polyurethane fiber). "Lycra" is the transliteration of the English word LYCRA. It was successfully researched by Bayer in Germany in 1937 and began to be produced by DuPont in the United States in 1959. It is a registered trademark of DuPont's spandex fiber. It can greatly improve the elasticity and extensibility of the fabric. The good recovery of spandex after stretching is its biggest advantage. Unlike traditional elastic fibers, its stretchability can reach 500% and it can return to its original state. In other words, this fiber can be stretched very easily, but after recovery, it can be closely attached to the surface of the human body, and has little restraint on the human body. Lycra fiber can be used with any fabric and is called a "friendly" fiber. Its good quality is recognized by its peers. As long as the clothing uses Lycra, it will be hung with a triangular tag, which has also become a symbol of high quality.

What is the difference between spandex and lycra

1. Lycra is a type of spandex, but spandex is not necessarily lycra. Lycra has better performance than ordinary spandex. Lycra is different from most spandex yarns. It has a special chemical structure and will not grow mold even if it is wet and placed in a hot and humid sealed space.

2. Spandex is an elastic fiber made of a polymer compound with a linear segment structure and containing more than 85% polyurethane. It has advantages that other fibers cannot match, such as light weight, high breaking strength, high breaking elongation, and good elastic recovery.

3. Lycra is different from traditional elastic fibers in that it can stretch up to 500% and can return to its original shape. That is, this fiber can be stretched very easily, but after returning, it can stick to the surface of the human body and has little restraint on the human body. Lycra fiber can be used with any fabric, including wool, linen, silk and cotton, to increase the fabric's close-fitting, elastic and loose and natural characteristics, making it more flexible when moving.

Advantages of Lycra fabric

1. Lycra fabric has very good stretch and elasticity, and is not easy to deform. Lycra is made of spandex fiber, which is composed of flexible segments and rigid segments. This molecular structure gives Lycra excellent extensibility and elastic recovery. This fabric can be stretched to 4 to 7 times its original length without deformation. After recovery, it can still cling to the surface of the human body with little restraint, and is very comfortable to wear.

2. The use of Lycra fabric is very wide. This fabric is generally not used alone, but needs to be used in combination with other fabrics, including wool, linen, silk, cotton and other fabrics to increase the closeness, elasticity, flexibility and comfort of the fabric. Moreover, Lycra is different from most spandex yarns. Lycra has a very special chemical structure and will not mold even if it is wet or in a sealed space, and has a relatively long service life.

3. The styles of clothing made of lycra fabrics are also very beautiful and diverse. After adding lycra to the clothes worn by many girls, the wrinkles of the fabric can be easily restored automatically and the clothes can be made more flowing and not easily deformed. Flexible and free, even the most rigorously made suits and jackets will not have the slightest sense of urgency or crampedness. Adding a little lycra to knitted fabrics such as sweatshirts, underwear, leggings, etc. will make them fit and comfortable, and they can stretch freely and move whenever they want.

4. Lycra fabric is very comfortable because it has strong stretchability, so people will not feel depressed and uncomfortable. Moreover, Lycra fabric is very soft and comfortable when combined with cotton, knitwear and other fabrics. It also has good breathability and comes in a variety of styles, which greatly meets the requirements of people in modern society who want to pursue fashion and beauty in clothing while also wanting to be comfortable and happy.

Disadvantages of Lycra fabric

1. It cannot be used alone, but can be interwoven with any other artificial or natural fiber.

2. It does not change the appearance of the fabric. It is an invisible fiber that can greatly improve the performance of the fabric.