Invisible Innovation | XLANCE^®

XLANCE^®, the original EOL yarn

It was 2003 when the DOW Chemical Company invented a new polyolefin yarn and launched it on the market, calling it XLA. The new-born elastomeric fibre, called elastolefin, specifically designed to possess high elasticity performance, immediately emerged as a better and more sustainable alternative to spandex. Thanks to its unique thermal and chemical resistance, it guarantees long-lasting elasticity and gives long-lasting stretch comfort to the fabrics in which it is used.  

In order to be classified and recognised as an elastolefin, the product must possess a durable elasticity and unique chemical and heat resistance characteristics that require special processing and processes that only XLANCE^® can undergo. 

To date, XLANCE^® is the only product on the market that can be classified in this way, making it the unique and original EOL yarn. 

Boost, XLANCE^® makes anything elastic

from Polypropylene to extra white and non-iron clothing

Easy set

XLANCE^® is heat set at 120°C, just above the crystal melting-temperature (against 185-190°C required for spandex). This is due to its molecular architecture and enables the combination with thermosensitive fibers, as well as guaranteeing significant energy and pollution savings.

Power, XLANCE^® makes elasticity durable

thanks to its unique chemical and thermal resistance

Acid test

XLANCE^® is characterized by the absence of any easily-attackable group in his polyolefin backbone and by the presence of the covalent crosslinks. This gives XLANCE^® an excellent resistance to any aggressive chemical agents, such as strong acids, alkalis, oxidizing agents, enzyme wash conditions.

Figure 1_1 ml of concentrated (98%) sulphuric acid was applied to the center of a denim fabric containing XLANCE^® for 4 hours, before rinsing with water: XLANCE^® yarn remains fully intact.

Heat test

XLANCE^® can withstand temperatures up to 220°C without compromising its integrity and stretch performance thanks to the covalent crosslinks. This makes it suitable for high-temperature textile processes.

Figure 2_ Micrographs comparing XLANCE^® and spandex fibers before and after 3 minutes treatment at 220 ± 3 °C. Fibers were placed on a slide side by side, covered with slipcover and placed on a hot stage. After cooling, the slipcover was gently removed, leading to the disintegration of spandex but not of XLANCE^®.

UV test

XLANCE^® yarn is inherently resistant to UVA and UVB radiations.

Stretch test

XLANCE^® features an innovative gentle stretch power, completely different from the typical high stretch power of spandex. The force required to stretch XLANCE^® is much lower than the one to be applied to spandex. This accounts for the unique comfort stretch feeling of XLANCE^® shaping fabrics.

ECO, XLANCE^® makes elasticity sustainable

Clean process, durable and recyclable fabric

Solvent free

XLANCE^® is produced through a clean melt spinning process, different from the dry-spinning (chemical) one of spandex that involves the use of dangerous solvents like DMAC or DMF.

Renewable energy

XLANCE^® is sourcing 100% of its electric power needs from renewable energy.

Low CO₂ emissions

XLANCE^® can be heat set at just 120°C ensuring the manufacturers substantial energy and costs savings and a relevant reduction in CO₂ emissions.

Extended life cycle

The test was performed on rameause with 10 vertical chain fields fed with natural gas indirect (CH₄).The reduction in temperature to carry out the fabric thermofixing operation allows to reduce the consumption of natural gas (CH₄) by 32 mc/h and consequently to reduce CO₂ emissions by 44% (reduction of CO₂ emissions by 63.1 Kg/h of CO₂).

XLANCE^® features a long-lasting stretch which guarantees an extended life cycle to all garments made of it. This entails a lower resource consumption and waste production, for a lower environmental footprint.

Low microplastic release

Thanks to its extreme chemical/ physical resistance, XLANCE^® has no tendency to fragmentation and microfiber shedding, not even after exposure to harsh agents, weathering or ageing.

Make it circular

XLANCE^® is always looking for new solutions that make sustainable not only the product, but also the entire production process, having a more systemic and holistic vision of the entire textile chain. The chemical component separation and material regeneration is one of the solutions that XLANCE^® is trying to put in place, in the perspective of a sustainable development.

Collaborator：XLANCE srl

If need to get more informaiton please refer to www.xlancefibre.com and the wechat account: 意大利XLANCE 弹力纤维