While Woven Webbing is renowned for its strength and rigidity, Knitted Tape offers a completely different set of advantages, primarily centered around its inherent flexibility, elasticity, and comfort. Often found in apparel, medical devices, and sporting goods, knitted tape is chosen specifically for applications where stretch, softness, and adaptability to body contours are paramount. Understanding its unique construction is key to appreciating its diverse applications.
Unlike woven webbing, which uses interlacing warp and weft yarns, Knitted Tape is produced by interlocking loops of yarn, similar to how a sweater is knitted. This looping structure allows the tape to stretch significantly in one or more directions, providing elasticity without the need for additional elastic fibers. The knitting process can vary, including warp knitting or weft knitting, each offering different characteristics regarding stretch, stability, and edge finish.
The yarns used in Knitted Tape are typically synthetic fibers, selected for their inherent stretch, resilience, and softness:
Polyester: Offers good strength, excellent resilience, and maintains its shape well after stretching. It’s also resistant to shrinking and stretching, making it a common choice.
Nylon: Known for its high strength, excellent elasticity, and smooth texture. It’s often used where a soft touch and significant stretch are needed.
Spandex (Lycra/Elastane): Often blended with other fibers (like polyester or nylon) to introduce high levels of stretch and recovery. Spandex provides the "snap-back" quality that prevents the tape from losing its shape after repeated stretching.
Cotton/Blends: Can be used for softer, more breathable options, often for medical applications or apparel where natural fibers are preferred, though they may offer less inherent stretch than synthetics.
So, where does the unique combination of flexibility and comfort in Knitted Tape truly excel?
Apparel and Activewear: This is a primary application. Knitted tapes are widely used for waistbands, cuffs, necklines, and decorative trim in clothing because they stretch with the body's movement, providing comfort and a non-restrictive fit. In activewear, their elasticity supports muscles and allows for full range of motion.
Medical and Orthopedic Applications: The soft, conformable nature of knitted tape makes it ideal for bandages, elastic wraps, compression garments, and orthopedic supports. Its ability to stretch and mold to irregular body shapes ensures a comfortable yet supportive fit, crucial for patient compliance and effective therapy.
Undergarments and Lingerie: The elasticity and softness of knitted tape provide comfort and a smooth finish, making it perfect for bra straps, waistbands, and edges of intimate apparel, where skin contact is constant.
Sporting Goods: From elastic straps on goggles to secure fastenings on protective gear, knitted tape provides the necessary stretch and recovery for dynamic sports activities, ensuring equipment stays in place without restricting movement.
Drawstrings and Cords: In applications where a degree of stretch is beneficial for ease of use or fit, knitted cords and drawstrings are preferred over woven ones.
Non-Fraying Edges: Many knitted tapes, particularly those produced via specific knitting methods, offer naturally non-fraying edges, which can be an advantage in terms of durability and aesthetics, simplifying manufacturing processes.
In summary, while Woven Webbing offers rigid strength, Knitted Tape provides engineered elasticity and softness. Its looped construction allows it to flex, stretch, and recover, making it the material of choice for applications where comfort, conformability, and unrestricted movement are just as important as durability. It's the flexible friend in textile engineering, adapting gracefully to dynamic needs.
