Quality requirements for elastic bands used in the manufacture of ready-made garments

The elastic bands are among of the requirements for the production of clothes that are used to fit a wide range of clothing sizes, making them more compact during wearing. The researcher noticed the impact of the elastic bands by the high temperature during their use, which made the researcher to conduct a pilot study (open-ended questionnaire) to survey the opinions of consumers on clothes that contain elastic bands regarding the problems they face while using those clothes as well as taking care of them. It was found that 100% of the consumers of those clothes encounter problems when using. The research aimed to identify the technology used in the manufacture of rubber bands (elastic), and study the effect of different temperatures (40˚C, 50˚C, 60˚C, 70˚C, 80˚C) on the quality of the elastic bands before and after they were sewn with 100% cotton fabric (men’s shorts and children’s shorts). The samples were exposed to heat by heat treatment unit inside the thermosol machine at the central quality control laboratory of Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in Mahalla El Kobra for five minutes. The research aimed to study the change in the number of washing times (one wash - five washes - ten washes) at different temperatures (40 ° C, 6 0 ˚C, 90˚C) on the tensile strength and return (the percentage of loss in elasticity after tensile) for the elastic bands, by conducting laboratory tests on the elastic bands and fabrics, conducting statistical treatments for them. An open questionnaire was designed to explore the opinions of the factory owners for the production of rubber bands on the technology used in the production of rubber bands, as well as the basic material used in the production of rubber bands, and the factors affecting the quality of the rubber band.
The research found:
- A relationship between the ratio of tensile and the return (the percentage of loss in elasticity after tensile) of the elastic bands before and after they are sewn with 100% cotton fabric (men’s shorts and children’s shorts) and the temperature is a direct relationship. The higher the temperature to which the rubber bands are exposed (elastic) before and after sewing it, the higher the tensile strength and the return. Thus the elastic loses part of its elasticity and its quality decreases.
- The ratio of tensile strength and return (the percentage of loss in elasticity after tensile strength) for woven elastic is close to the ratio of tensile strength and return to knitted elastic before and after knitting.
- The best temperature to which the rubber bands (elastic) are exposed before and after they are sewn without losing their properties and affecting their quality is 40°C or 50°C, whether during use or during storage.
- Clothes that contain elastic bands (elastic) should not be exposed to a temperature of 80 ° C, because the band loses its elasticity completely.
- Clothes that contain elastic bands (elastic) should not be exposed to a temperature of more than 40°C, either when in use or during storage, to maintain their quality and achieve the properties of the end use. The washing time can also be increased, but at a temperature of 40°C to preserve the rubber bands, as repeated washing with high temperature affects the rubber bands (elastic) and consequently the elastic bands lose their quality and the clothes are unfit for use.