What are the types of elastic bands? Yoga resistance band is actually a kind of elastic band? 4 types of elastic band and simple testing methods teach you at once!

What are the types of elastic bands? Did you know that yoga resistance band is also a type of elastic bands?

 

Elastic band is a commonly used clothing accessory material, which is a long strip of elastic material made with natural or synthetic rubber. The first prototype of the elastic band did not use rubber, but was made of steel wire springs, which were originally used in the inside of the hat. This kind of wire spring is easy to pierce the hat when wearing or storing it; until the rubber is used as the material for the elastic band, the disadvantages of the wire spring, such as scratching clothes and easy rusting, can be then overcome. Since then, elastic bands have been widely used in women’s underwear shoulder straps, trousers, sportswear, disposable protective clothing cuffs, bandages, yoga resistance band and other products. In addition, the earloops of the masks worn every day during pandemic are also a type of elastic band.

 

Note: We have another article about mask earloops! Please click the link below↓↓↓

Which types of facemask earloop are most comfortable? 5 key points that affect the comfort of mask earloops! A good earloop will make your ears no longer hurt!

https://www.illumeinternational.com/en/types-of-facemask-earloop/

 

Regarding elastics, according to their manufacturing process, they can be subdivided into three categories – woven elastics, knitted elastics, braided elastics.

 

Woven Elastic Band

Woven Elastic Band is using natural or man-made fibers (usually cotton or polyester) as warp and weft threads, and interweave with rubber (natural latex or synthetic rubber). Woven elastic band is the tightest of the three types of elastic band. It is widely used on many products, such as the cuffs and hem of clothing, the waist of trousers (such as jacquard elastics), suspenders, etc. Woven elastic band can also be used in sports.

<Woven elastic band is very tight>

 

Knitted Elastic Band

Knitted elastic bands are made by hooking the warp and weft threads together, and the rubber threads are wrapped in the chain of warp threads (or sandwiched by two sets of weft threads). The organization of knitted elastic band is looser than that of woven elastic band and braided elastic band, and the handfeel is the softest. Knitted elastic band can make small and colorful patterns, such as heathered drawstring headbands, multicolor elastic mesh elastics, and more. The mesh structure allows clear holes to be seen after stretching.

<Clear holes can be seen after the knitted elastic is stretched>

 

Braided Elastic Band

Braided elastic band, also known as spindle elastic band, is to cover the rubber thread after passing the longitudinal warp through the spindle (one of the parts on the spinning machine, used to wrap the yarn around the bobbin), and follow the Figure 8 braided into elastic. The texture and handfeel of braided elastic band are between woven and knitted elastic band. The disadvantage is that it’ll lose its ability to return to its original shape if being stitched or pierced. Braided elastic bands have fewer variations and are generally suitable for products that require narrower elastics, such as cuffs or necklines on apparel, or drawstrings at the hem.

<Braided elastic band>

 

Rubber Band

Rubber band can be made of natural rubber or synthetic rubber. When using it, you should pay attention to whether your customers are allergic to natural rubber. If they are allergic, it is recommended to use synthetic rubber to reduce the probability and reaction of allergies. Rubber band can be cut to specific width and thickness according to customer requirements, and are often used in tourniquets, yoga resistance band, cuff or waistbands of disposable protective coverall and other products that require high strength and elasticity. Rubber band has good elasticity, but because it is not covered with yarn, it is not comfortable to directly touch the skin. And the appearance is not good, so it is not suitable for direct sewing on apparel.

<Rubber band is widely used in medical and fitness applications>

 

Elasticity of elastic bands and test methods

 

The most important thing about the elastic band is elasticity. If the elastic band of the trousers or underwear is loose, the comfort of wearing will be affected or even need to be replaced to improve the elasticity. There are two keys to affecting the elasticity of the elastic band.

 

1.  Elastic band stretch rate (Elongation)

Elongation rate refers to the elasticity of the elastic band itself, that is, the maximum stretchable length. If the stretch rate is not large enough, the elastic band is difficult to adjust and spread, which will make it too tight or uncomfortable to wear. The stretch rate can be adjusted according to the needs of customers.

 

2.  Elastic band rebound rate

Rebound rate refers to the resilience of the elastic band, that is, the ability to return to a certain range of its original length after being stretched by an external force for a period of time. If the rebound rate is too large, the elastic band will become looser and looser, which will make it unable to achieve its due function. The rebound rate can be adjusted according to the needs of customers.

 

If you want to know why the elastic band of your clothes become loose after a few washings, and wonder whether the elastic band meets the standard, in addition to asking the manufacturer, you can also follow below simple steps to test the elastic band yourself!

 

Three ways to measure rebound rate.

(1) Take a ruler, cut a 10cm elastic band and place it on the edge of the ruler to align it and pinch the left and right ends; or if you don’t have scissors at hand, you don’t need to cut it. Just pinch 10cm of elastic band and don’t let the pinched position escape.

<Step 1>

 

(2) Test the elasticity: fix the left end point (at 0cm), pinch the 10cm end point on the right and extend to the right to the maximum (note: do not move the pinched position). Pull the elastic band to the longest position with the maximum force, and the number obtained is the stretch rate of the elastic band. The stretch rate of the elastic band can be adjusted according to the requirements of the customer, and there is no standard value.

<Step 2>

 

(3) Test the rebound rate: stop at step (2) for about 1 minute, slowly release the force and let it return to the left (note: the 10cm pinched position cannot be released or moved), and observe the length of the 10cm elastic band after rebounded. The rebound rate of the elastic band can be adjusted according to the requirements of the customer, and there is no standard value.

<Step 3>

 

If you purchase elastic band in large quantities for commercial use, in addition to elasticity, you need to pay attention to below quality requirements too.

(1) Width of elastic band

(2) Thickness/yardage of elastic band

(3) Flatness of elastic band

(4) Color shade/color fastness of elastic band

(5) Elasticity/rebound rate of elastic band

(6) Washing/drying shrinkage of elastic band

(7) Weaving defects of elastic band

 

The above is a simple method for testing elastic band and matters to be paid attention to when purchasing. The quality and durability of elastic belts are actually closely related to the type of rubber used at the beginning of production and the storage environment before and after the process. If the quality of the rubber thread is not good, it’s difficult to make an elastic band with high elasticity and durability. Therefore, the best way is to produce elastic band according to the customer’s original samples, or ask the customer to inform the detailed quality requirements.

 

~The end~

 

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016812000063

https://mellysews.com/types-elastic-use/