Curing Wrapping Tape: Process and Properties

There are certain narrow fabrics that are exclusively used for industrial applications. Curing wrapping tape is one such narrow fabric which is widely used for vulcanization and for making rubber products like hose pipes etc. It is also used in many other industries such as aerospace, cargo, industrial safety, home furnishings, automotive and lots of other industries.

Manufacturing of Curing Wrapping Tapes

Curing wrapping tapes are made from high tensile long threads of nylon 66 with the help of high-speed weaving. The weaving techniques adopted for making these tapes provide them with high tenacity and efficiency. Most of the manufacturers who produce quality curing wrapping tapes conform to the latest technologies and use various types of machines and tools. In fact, the manufacturing of curing wrapping tapes include almost all those steps that are followed while making any other type of fabric right from designing to finishing.

Equipment for Making Curing Wrapping Tapes

Curing Wrapping Tape, in its essence, is a fabric which is woven with the help of weaving looms. The looms that are used for weaving these tapes include shuttle looms, jacquard loom, needle loom or shuttleless loom etc. In fact, many narrow fabrics manufacturers make even customized tapes with patterns that are required by their clients. Braiding, dyeing, finishing, strap cutting, sonic welding and sewn webbing assemblies are all done to make a high quality curing wrapping tape.


Tests for Quality Assurance

Curing wrapping tapes are used for highly efficient products that need a very high level of safety and durability. As such, they are tested in well equipped laboratories to ensure optimum performances in any condition. Some of these tests include static load tensile test, interior materials flammability test, vertical flame resistance test, heat resistance test, abrasion resistance test, shrinkage resistance test, and elongation test among others.

Properties to be Considered while Buying Curing Wrapping Tapes

Curing wrapping tapes are mainly used for vulcanization to give flexibility and strength to the rubber products like hoses and pipes which in turn have to meet the specifications of a given application. The quality of a curing wrapping tape determines how well the end product will turn out. Therefore, one should always ensure the basic properties of these tapes before buying them. The advanced properties that are additionally provided by the manufacturers can be considered according to one's requirement and budget allowance. Most of the curing wrapping tapes have the following properties:

• Controlled elongation
• High tensile strength
• Chemical resistance
• Heat resistance
• High tenacity
• High dimensional stability
• High strength
• Flexibility
• Lightweight
• Abrasion resistance
• Capability to withstand harsh conditions

Apart from the above properties, one can go for such properties like eco-friendly and low deformity which are, nowadays, provided by many manufacturers.

How to Sew Elastics the Right Way?

Active lifestyle demands dresses made up of such fabrics that give the freedom for easy movement. However, in most of the clothing, elastics are used for making them more workable and flexible with control over their stretchability. Not only garments, elastics are used for sewing and other craft projects too. Do you ever wonder why the elastic that you used in your last project doesn't seem to work with the present sewing project? Why the elastic in your cotton pajama is causing problems while the same elastic in your swim wear is working excellently? In fact, the type of elastics and the fabrics with which they are used plus the sewing methods, all go to contribute in the perfect working of elastics

Types of Elastics and their Construction

Elastic is a flexible and stretchable narrow fabric made of rubber core which is wrapped in polyester, cotton, nylon or a blend of fiber threads. These exterior fibers are braided, woven or knit together to give various thicknesses and widths to the elastics. Most of the elastics are 1/8" to 2 ½" wide. However, elastic thread can be much narrower and the decorative elastic waistbands can be extra wide. Different elastics have different degrees of stretchability. Elastics are sewn to fabrics in two ways- direct application and casing. In the first method, elastic is attached to fabric by sewing directly through the elastic and fabric. In the second method, the elastic is encased into a closed tunnel like fabric and then sewed to the fabric often around the waist, at the neckline or lower edge of a sleeve or pant leg.

Braided elastics are used in casings as they get narrowed when stretched. They can't retain their stretch and shape if applied directly to the fabric. These light weight elastics are mainly used on sleeve hems, swim wear and leg bands. Braided non-roll elastic is appropriate for waistbands because they can remain flat when stretched.

Knitted elastics are soft, light weight, strong and appropriate for directly applying on almost any kind of garment. These elastics can also be sewed in casing. They ares best for lightweight fabrics. Many knitted elastics also have sewing line at their edges which don’t have elastic in them. So, it becomes much easier to sew these elastics to a garment.

Woven elastics, usually thicker than the other elastics, are very strong. When sewn directly onto a fabric, they can retain their width and stretch,. Woven elastics can also be sewed in casing. They are usually applied to heavy weight fabrics, such as home furnishings, car covers, bags, accessories, etc.

Transparent or clear elastics are synthetic narrow fabrics that can stretch up to four times their length and can completely recover the original size and shape. They are made of polyurethane and does not contain rubber which makes them appropriate to be used in kids garments or for people who are allergic to latex. It is primarily used in those areas that are prone to lose stretch, such as shirt bottoms, shoulder seams and necklines. They can't be used in casings as they'll roll over themselves.

Tips for Sewing Elastics

• Choose an elastic that has the same care requirements as the finished garment.
• Use those elastics which recover their original length after stretching.
• Use cotton elastic with cotton garments. Wash the cotton fabric before sewing as the elastic will also shrink a little when washed.
• Use nylon elastic for lingerie and swim wear. They can be machine washed but dry them in medium heat.
• Polyester elastics go with almost all fabrics. They can be washed as well as dry cleaned.
• Choose such threads that are compatible with fabric.
• Use a ball-point needle when sewing.
• Adjust the thread tension when stitching and stretching elastic.
• Elastic should be tight enough to prevent fabric from drooping, but loose enough to be comfortable.
• Cut the elastic according to the required length plus 1" for finishing the ends.
• When applying elastic directly to fabric, cut it about 8% shorter than the required length. It will stretch during sewing.
• Use a long straight stitch or a zigzag stitch when sewing the elastic directly to fabric. A long stitch having length of three or four is best for most of the fabrics and elastic types.
• If doing too much work with elastic, consider buying specialty presser foot/machine attachment that applies elastic without having to stretch it by hand.

Narrow Fabrics- For Decoration, Safety and Support

Narrow fabrics are specialized fabrics used for both- individual as well as industrial requirements. Individuals use them for decorating their garments and home furnishings while industries utilize them for adding value to their products. Narrow fabrics manufacturers know this very well and thus strive to create more and more innovative narrow fabrics in order to meet the requirements of various industries. Let's know what are the types of narrow fabrics and how they find applications in various industries.

Types and Applications of Narrow Fabrics

Narrow fabrics are thin strips of textile, not more than 45cm in width. They can be made of different fabrics including cotton, satin, velvet, nylon, polyester among others. There are many such common narrow fabrics that are used for one or the other purpose.

Tapes: Available in various patterns, designs, weaves, width and thickness, the long strips of fabrics called tapes are widely used in garment, furniture upholstery and home furnishings etc.

Webbings: They are flat strips or tubes of strong woven fabric, often made up of meshed fabric. Webbings are used in bags, sports products, furniture and automobile upholstery, parachutes, military apparels and industrial safety products.

Laces: Laces are narrow fabrics with open holes in them. Mostly used for decorative purpose, they find application in garment, handbags, lingerie and footwear industries.

Cords: They are lengths of fabrics, usually made of twisted strands or fibers and can be called an intermediate between rope and string. Some of the cords can be identified as drawstrings, piping cords, and elastic cords which are mainly used for binding, tying, connecting or supporting garments, handbags, luggage, sports clothing etc.

Elastics: These stretchable fabrics are further used for making other narrow fabrics such as tapes, laces, straps, trims etc. Elastic narrow fabrics can be braided, woven, knitted or corded which are used by various industries like furniture, automotive, garments etc.

Ribbons: These narrow strips or bands made up of fine fabrics like satin, velvet etc. and sometimes with leather too, are mainly used for binding and tying things together. However, their use for decorative and symbolic purposes (awareness ribbons) is also well known around the world. They are widely used in garments, footwear, handbags, lingerie, gift packing and even for decorating wedding cakes. Typewriter too have ribbons for holding ink.

These are only some of the narrow fabrics. There are many others like straps, trims, labels, wicks and mantles etc. that can be categorized as narrow fabrics.