METHOD TO MAKE CIRCULAR KNIT ELASTIC FABRIC COMPRISING SPANDEX AND HARD YARNS

摘要

Circular knit, elastic fabrics (10) of at least one of single jersey, French terry, and fleece are disclosed that include a bare elastomeric material (12) plated with spun and/or continuous filament hard yarns (14). The circular knit, elastic fabrics of at least one of single jersey, French terry, and fleece are manufactured by a method that does not require a dry heat setting step. The method requires drafting the bare elastomeric material no more than about 7x its original length when knitting to form the circular knit, elastic, single jersey, French terry, or fleece fabric. The method includes contacting the knit fabric with an aqueous solution under very low tension and under conditions of temperature and pressure for a period of time sufficient to substantially set the elastomeric material.