Special care of circular knitted elastic fabric.

The extensibility and elastic recovery are the main characteristics of elastic fabric. These characteristics are incorporated with the help of elastane thread. The final property of such fabric depends on fabric construction and other knitting parameters. It is necessary to select suitable finishing process to produce fabric with the required technical and elastic properties having a very good appearance with good hand feeling.

After knitting the storing condition of elastic fabric is important. For example if it is stored in worm and humid condition, the fabric may become denser before any wet processing and may change the GSM or Diameter of the fabric. It is better to undergo a simple test before the setting of finishing parameter. A piece of grey fabric is to boil and subsequently dried in tension free (Specially in a tumbler) and the shrinkage is to measure. The degree of shrinkage tells the finisher which is the most suitable finishing procedure for the respective fabric.

After knitting the elastic fabric must be delivered open width and subjected to heat setting in order to create dimensional stability and to deduce the tendency to curl at the edges. Before dyeing the fabric must be back sewing and will be dyed in rope form. For quality reason, dyeing time and temperature should be restricted as much as possible i.e. the maximum working temperature is 98- 100 °c (except for polyester blends that are dyed at 120 - 130 °c). If M: L ratio is too small that will increase creasing tendency as well the temperature changing should be very slowly. Due bath lubricant (anticreasing agent) is to be added to prevent creasing.

Drying is to be performed in the stenter machine at temperature between 130- 160 °c. However, incase of application of easy- care finishing chemical the required curing temperature should be ensured. Finally overfeed adjustment GSM and diameters as well as required extensibility of the finished fabric are achieved.