GB448669A - Improvements in elastic fabric and method of making same - Google Patents

Abstract

448,669. Elastic fabrics ; coated fabrics; compound fabrics. INTERNATIONAL LATEX PROCESSES, Ltd., 10, Lefebvre Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey. Nov. 13, 1935, No. 31379. Convention date, Dec. 18, 1934. [Class 140] Elastic fabrics are produced by condensing a fabric, i.e. reducing its dimension in one direction while substantially unextended in any direction and without planar distortion, and depositing rubber on to the condensed fabric so as to maintain it normally in condensed condition. As shown, a rubber belt 10 is extended lengthwise between rolls 11, 16 and coated with adhesive e.g. glue, at 13, fabric 18 being fed into the nip of the rolls 16 and passing with the belt through rolls 20, 21, 22 running at progressively slower speeds whereby the belt relaxes and the fabric adhered thereto is condensed. Rubber-containing fluid, e.g. latex is then applied by a spraying-device 25 or spreader and the rubber is deposited upon the fabric by a coagulant or by passage through a drier 27. After passing through a steam chest 29, to soften the adhesive, the fabric is separated from the belt and passed through a washer 31, drier and vulcanizer 32 to a roll 33, the belt passing through a washer 34 and drier 35 to the rolls 11. The fabric may be plied before or after winding. The steam chest 29 may be omitted. Adhesives other than glue may be employed e.g. shellac, copal, cellulose compounds &c. dissolved in non-rubber solvents. Woven, knitted, and netted fabrics, composed entirely of textile thread or containing bare or rubber-covered threads, may be employed. Vulcanized latex may be used, but preferably vulcanizable latex is employed, and where fabrics are to be doubled or plied, vulcanization is not allowed to reach completion before plying. The coating of rubber may be a light deposit to preserve porosity of the fabric, or may be a heavy impermeable film. The rubber surface of a single or plied fabric may be flocked. Where it is desired to condense a fabric widthwise, cut lengths of fabric equal to the width of the belt 10 are applied transversely thereto ; alternatively the belt is stretched laterally by a tenter, with or without longitudinal stretch, and allowed to relax after application of the adhesive and fabric. The adhesive may be applied in a pattern, e.g. by spaced rollers or a grooved or notched knife or bar to produce fabrics having a puckered appearance. A non-elastic belt of rubber, metal &c. may be employed and the fabric condensed thereon by a faster-running roll. In a further modification, fabric treated with rubber-containing fluid is sandwiched between two stretched belts the tensions on which are released before or while depositing the rubber e.g. by drying.