Wendy D. Hoenig

Polyolefin Based Crosslinked Elastic Fiber: A Technical Review of DOW XLA™ Elastic Fiber Technology

INSITE™ catalyst technology from the Dow Chemical Company is used to produce polyolefin elastomers having low crystallinity that can be melt‐spun into fibers. DOW XLA fiber is a unique, elastic fiber that is olefin‐based and designed for durable, comfortable stretch performance with excellent heat and chemical resistance. The elastomeric properties of DOW XLA elastic fiber result from two superimposed molecular networks of flexible polymer chains with three types of junctions: crystallites, entanglements, and covalent cross‐links. DOW XLA elastic fibers are made by conventional melt‐spinning and crosslinking. This article will discuss how polyolefin elastomer properties, fiber spinning conditions, and fiber crosslinking enable the design of polyolefin elastomer fibers with properties useful in elastic apparel manufacture. DOW XLA elastic fiber is an exciting breakthrough in fiber technology with significant benefits over fifty year old elastane or spandex technology.