When you wear any jeans or yoga pants or buy them in a store, you usually want them to fit your body shape well and stretch with your body. It is the use of spandex or elastane that provides this fit and flexibility. You can ask what is the real difference between Spandex and Elastane. This article will address this question and discuss the general differences and similarities between Spandex and Elastane in terms of stretch, breathability, sustainability, durability, usage, softness, and costs. Let us know more detail about ‘Spandex Vs Elastane’.
Spandex Vs Elastane
Regarding Spandex
Spandex is a synthetic fabric and does not grow under natural conditions as there is no organic kind of source to produce it. Spandex and Elastane come from the same chemicals and date back to the 50s.
Regarding Elastane
Elastane is similar to Spandex in many ways. Elastane has a flexible structure and is used generally in the textile industry. Its usage zone is the European region. It was devised by Joseph Shivers in 1958. There are several ways to produce Elastane, including melt extrusion, reaction spinning, solution dry spinning, and solution wet spinning. Elastane has a stretchy structure that helps and facilitates the pressure comfort of the fabric. This improves the body movement of the product. Elastane stands out with its flexibility, softness, and comfort.
1. Stretch
There are plenty of distinctive things that make a piece of fabric stretchy, such as Spandex and Elastane. For example, woven garments are stretched diagonally rather than horizontally or vertically. On the other hand, most knitted garments can gain flexibility due to the loop shape given to the yarns. Moreover, if you add Spandex or Elastane to the knitted fabric, it takes the form of a highly flexible material. While adding Spandex to the woven material, provides a slight stretch, this stretch rate is not as much as the knit material. The amount of stretching varies according to the natural property of the fabric included in the mixture.
2. Breathability
Both Spandex and Elastane do not have a breathable structure. For this type of reason, most manufacturers prefer to use only a portion of the material when mixing it with other materials. If you want more breathable sportswear, you should choose the ones with a more loose knitting type. In addition, polyester-style synthetic fabrics have moisture-absorbing properties when combined with Elastane. This means it will easily absorb sweat and help it vaporize into the air.
3. Sustainability
There are different opinions on the sustainability of both materials. The Spandex and Elastane production process require several toxic chemicals, which can be extremely hazardous for the environment. In addition, the rubber harvest in Elastane production has been significantly reduced. As you know, rubber plantings are quite harmful thing to the environment. This change in elastane production is a positive development in terms of sustainability.
4. Durability
Spandex and Elastane tend to lose their elasticity over time, but with proper and on-site care, you have the chance to delay this process. When it comes to flexibility, Spandex is longer lasting compared to others. It is resistant to sweat and body oils but can affect its lifespan when exposed to heat or other damaging external factors. Moreover, improper maintenance can also negatively affect the life of materials.
5. Softness
We cannot say that spandex has the softest form. However, it offers a smooth and light texture to the wearers. When you add Spandex or Elastane to other materials, it doesn’t turn it into rough form and doesn’t make the mix heavier. Instead, it makes the mixes much lighter.
6. Costs
Spandex is much more expensive than other types of synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester. This is because the Spandex and Elastane production process is more labor-intensive and requires more chemicals for its ingredients.
7. Usage
Spandex and Elastane are very popular in the fashion industry. catch suits, underwear, swimsuits, socks, etc. Most of it contains Elastane. In the past, people would tighten their socks with things like ribbons to keep them from slipping. However, in modern times, manufacturers have added Elastane to these socks to prevent the socks from slipping down.
Conclusion
Now we have learnt ‘Spandex Vs Elastane’, As a result, it is seen that Spandex and Elastane are used for common purposes, except for the slight difference in terms. They enable people to wear their Clothes more comfortably, thanks to the flexible fabric mixture. They also ensure that the clothes fit better on the person. Spandex and Elastane are also used in underwear, swimwear, tights, socks, etc. is used. Its use has increased in recent years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) What is the structure of Spandex and Elastane?
A) Spandex and elastane are stretchy materials and have the same fabric.
Q) Do the usage areas differ?
A) Generally, the term Spandex is common in the USA, and the term Elastane is used in the rest of the world.