Stretch fabric with improved chemical resistance and durability

Abstract

Durable stretch fabrics are made and processed from one or more inelastic and one or more elastic fibers, for example, a substantially linear, homogeneously branched ethylene polymer. The fabrics can be made by any process, such as, weaving, knitting, etc., and from any combination of crosslinked, heat-resistant olefin elastic and inelastic (“hard”) fibers, for example, cotton and wool. These fabrics exhibit excellent chemical, resistance (for example chlorine or caustic resistance) and durability, that is they retain their shape and feel (“hand”) over repeated exposure to processing conditions, such as stone-washing, dye-stripping, PET-dyeing and the like, and service conditions, such as washing, drying, etc.

1 . A durable elastic article capable of surviving treatment wherein the treatment is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) exposure to a 10% by weight sodium hypochlorite solution for a period of at least 90 minutes at a temperature of at least 140° F.;    b) exposure to a 5% by weight permanganate solution for a period of at least 90 minutes at a temperature of at least 140° F.;    c) 50 cycles of industrial laundering at temperatures at least about 65° C.;    d) 20 cycles of drycleaning with perchloroethylene; or    e) mercerization;    wherein surviving means that after treatment the fabric exhibits growth of less than 20% as determined according to ASTM D3107.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the growth is less than 10%.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the growth is less than 8%.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3  which is further capable of surviving two or more of the treatments.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the article is stone washed.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article comprises fiber comprising crosslinked homogeneously branched ethylene polymer.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article is a fabric.  
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 7  in which the fabric is woven or knitted.  
     
     
         9 . A garment made from the fabric of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9  wherein the garment is swimwear.  
     
     
         11 . A treated garment made from elastic fabric wherein the treatment is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) exposure to a 10% by weight sodium hypochlorite solution for a period of at least 90 minutes at a temperature of at least 140° F.;    b) exposure to a 5% by weight permanganate solution for a period of at least 90 minutes at a temperature of at least 140° F.;    c) 50 cycles of industrial laundering at temperatures at least about 65° C.;    d) 20 cycles of drycleaning with perchloroethylene; and    e) mercerization;    wherein the garment exhibits growth of no more than about 20% as determined according to ASTM D3107.    
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the treatment was done to the fiber prior to making the fabric.  
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the treatment was done to the fabric prior to assembling the garment.  
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the treatment was done to the fabricated garment.  
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the treatment included two or more elements of the group.  
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the garment is swimwear.  
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the fabric is denim.  
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the garment is a uniform.  
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 18  wherein the uniform is a rental uniform.  
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the garment is made from fabric comprising fibers made from homogeneously branched ethylene polymer.