Elastic fabric and process of preparation

Abstract

The disclosure provides a woven fabric, wherein all warp and weft yarns may be elastic. One or more of the weft and warp yarns may have a stretchable core comprising a first elastic fiber and a second fiber that may be less elastic than said first fiber. In embodiments, the elasticity of the fabric in the warp direction may be at least 25% and the elasticity of the fabric in the weft direction (E weft ) may be at least 25%. In embodiments, the elasticity of the fabric in the weft direction (E weft ) may be at least 30%. In embodiments, the elasticity of the fabric in the weft direction (E weft ) may be at least 40%.

1 . A woven fabric comprising:
 elastic warp yarns;   and   elastic weft yarns, said elastic warp yarns and said elastic weft yarns each comprising a stretchable core and an inelastic fiber sheath covering each of said stretchable cores, the stretchable cores of said elastic warp yarns and said elastic weft yarns each comprising a first elastic fiber and a second fiber, the second fiber being less elastic than said first elastic fiber,   an elasticity of the fabric in the warp direction being at least 25% and an elasticity of the fabric in weft direction being at least 25%.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , the elasticity of the fabric in the warp direction being at least 40% and the elasticity of the fabric in weft direction being at least 40%. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , said first fiber and said second fiber connected together by intermingling. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , the elasticity of the fabric in the weft direction being greater than the elasticity of the fabric in the warp direction. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , the elasticity of the fabric in the warp direction being between 30% to 90%. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 1 , the elasticity of the fabric in the weft direction being between 35% to 125%. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 1 , the ratio of the elasticity of the fabric in the weft direction to the elasticity of the fabric in the warp direction being in the range of 1.8/1.0 to 3.0/1.0. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 1 , said first fiber being able to elongate at least 400% of its initial length at its breaking point, said second fiber being able to elongate at least 20% of its initial length but less than the elongation of the first fiber. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 3 , said first fiber and said second fiber being intermingled and having a number of connecting points within the range of 50 to 200 points per meter. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 3 , said first fiber and said second fiber being connected by twisting and having a number of twists per meter in the range of 300 to 600 twists per meter. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric of  claim 1 , said elastic warp and weft yarns comprising a corespun yarn comprising an English cotton count ranging from 10 Ne to 50 Ne. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 1 , said fabric having a weight after washing ranging from 135 g/m 2  to 508 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 1 , the fabric comprising a denim fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 1 , the fabric incorporated in a clothing article. 
     
     
         15 . A process of producing an elastic woven fabric, the process comprising:
 providing corespun warp yarns and corespun weft yarns each having a stretchable core and an inelastic fiber sheath that covers said stretchable core, said stretchable cores comprising a first elastic fiber and a second fiber, said second fiber being less elastic than said first elastic fiber;   weaving said corespun warp and said weft yarns to create a fabric;   and   finishing said fabric, wherein the finishing provides said fabric with an elasticity in the warp direction of at least 25% and an elasticity in the weft direction of at least 25%.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , the finishing providing said fabric with an elasticity in the warp direction of at least 30% and an elasticity in the weft direction of at least 30%. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 15 , said first fiber and said second fiber being connected together by at least one of intermingling, twisting, and coextrusion 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 15 , the elasticity of said fabric in the weft direction being greater than the elasticity of said fabric in the warp direction. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 15 , said second fiber selected from the group of a PBT elastomultiester, a bicomponent PTT/PET, a PTT/PBT, and a nylon. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 15 , said first elastic fiber selected from the group of a polyolefin elastomer and a polyurethane elastomer. 
     
     
         21 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said second fiber is a bicomponent PTT/PET. 
     
     
         22 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said second fiber is PET. 
     
     
         23 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said first elastic fiber is a polyurethane elastomer.