How do labs test spandex in polyester/spandex fabric?

Spandex is also called Elastane, it is 85% polyurethane. To test the fibers in a fabric labs generally take the fibers apart and test them for various properties. The test method used is ASTM D276 - 12. Standard Test Methods for Identification of ... read more

Spandex is also called Elastane, it is 85% polyurethane. To test the fibers in a fabric labs generally take the fibers apart and test them for various properties. The test method used is ASTM D276 - 12. Standard Test Methods for Identification of Fibers in Textiles. read more

Spandex or Lycra or elastane is a fibre that is blended with other fibres like cotton, polyester, nylon etc to provide stretch and elasticity. Elastane has excellent stretch and recovery and is more durable than rubber which used to be used for this purpose in clothing, before discovery of elastane in the DuPont labs. read more

The higher the spandex or Lycra content of a fabric, the more stretch and recovery you can expect it to have. Even though spandex fiber makes an appearance in many fabrics, when people refer generically to spandex, they’re generally talking about nylon/spandex or polyester/spandex blends knitted with 4 way stretch. read more