Welcome to the polyurethane fiber directory section of the Apparel Search website. In this section, you will find educational information and links to resources relevant to polyurethane fibers. If you work in the apparel industry or simply have an interest in polyurethane textiles, this is the area for you. If you do not find enough information in this section of our polyurethane fibers guide, you may wish to check the textile section or go back to the fiber directory main page for additional textile fiber choices.
Polyurethane fibers, sometimes called Spandex or Elastane, are synthetic fibers in which the fiber forming substance is a polymer consisting of at least 85 percent segmented polyurethane. The fiber is produced by reacting a polyester with a diisocyanate.
Asahi-Kasei (Japan): Asahi Kasei fibers is the core operating company for all fibers and textiles operations of the Asahi Kasei Group. A wide and expanding range of innovative materials for apparel and industrial applications are produced with the know-how gained through eight decades of industry leadership. Main business: Roica polyurethane fibers, Eltas spunbonds, Lamous artificial suedes, Bemliese cupro nonwovens, Bemberg cupro fibers, Leona nylon 66 fibers, polyester filaments.
The Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry (API): The Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry serves as a research arm and data clearinghouse for API member companies. API technical experts, working in conjunction with the American Plastic Council's Plastics Industry Producers' Statistics Group, regularly produce a variety of data and reports for the polyurethane industry.
BASF / polyurethane: BASF Polyurethane's product range includes - PU basic products - PU systems - PU specialty elastomers With more than forty years of experience in polyurethanes, their high-performance products as well as Their knowledge and expertise make them a reliable partner.
When scientists discovered that polyurethanes could be made into fine threads, they were combined with nylon to make more lightweight, stretchable garments. Over the years, polyurethanes have been improved and developed into Spandex fibers, polyurethane coatings, and thermoplastic elastomers.Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers can be molded and shaped into different parts. When these elastomers are spun into fibers they produce a flexible material called spandex. Spandex is used to make sock tops, bras, support hose, swimsuits, and other athletic apparel.
Polyurethane coated fabrics meet the needs of today's fashion trends. They are durable and abrasion-resistant, while also being soft, light and even breathable. As such, they are used in creating more comfortable and sophisticated weatherproof clothing such as sports anoraks and light rain clothes. Polyurethane coatings are also used for leather-like materials such as imitation suede and as man-made leather for garments that not only look like leather, but also have similar stretch, stiffness and permeability properties.
Because of todays advances in polyurethane techniques, manufactures can make a broad range of polyurethane apparel from man-made skins and leathers used for garments to sports clothes and a variety of accessories. Information Resource: The Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry
If you work for a company that supplies polyurethane textile products, you can use the add your company link at the bottom of this page to create a listing on the Apparel Search polyurethane directory pages. You can also create a listing for your company at the Textile Industry Directory by following directions at that site.
If you wish to read more about polyurethane, don't forget to visit the textile news section. More specifically, view the textile fiber news area. Also, if you work in the fashion industry or textile industry, please join us at the fashion industry network for discussions about the use of polyurethane.
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