'Stretching for Profit' How to increase profit by working with elastomeric blends

摘要

Creating value - addition in textiles by imparting stretch is a sound business proposition. However, successful "Stretching for Profit" depends on an equally sound technical base. There is a wealth of evidence to substantiate the view that processes which have been established successfully on textiles without an elastomeric component (rigid host fibres) do not necessarily transfer to blends with elastane fibres (elastomerics). This paper reviews the evidence with respect to Cellulose / Elastomer. The processing of Polyester / Lycra is also discussed. This study has led to the development of a wet process which covers the preparation, dyeing and washing-off hydrolysed reactive dyes. The original objectives of this development were to develop a process which would offer the ultimate in terms of safety. However, the process which has evolved offers considerable benefits in terms of cost savings, productivity increases and profit generation. Compared to previous conventional processing, this new development by "Dyehouse Solutions International" offers 50% savings in terms of both dyeing time and effluent production.