LYCRA® ANTISTATIC fiber delivers a game-changing alternative for workwear fabrics
Static electricity poses a major risk for workers across a range of industries. When flammable materials are present, just one static spark can ignite an explosion. Chemical manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, aviation, and oil and gas are just some of the industries where flammable dust, vapor, gas, or liquids can pose a problem. In cleanrooms, where workers interact with sensitive electronics, static charge can attract particles and contaminate or damage sensitive products.
That’s why workwear is highly regulated in those sectors — antistatic fabrics must comply with standards such as EN 1149, IEC 61340-4-9, and ANSI/ESD S20.20 and meet requirements set by regulators like OSHA and the UK’s Health and Safety Executive. But compliance alone doesn’t guarantee comfort for workers or cost efficiency for fabric mills.
In typical antistatic workwear, rigid carbon or silver fibers are knitted into fabrics to discharge static electricity and prevent buildup and sparks. While they’re effective, these fibers can be expensive for mills, making fabrics more costly for brands, companies, and wearers. Plus, rigid fabrics often dig in and don’t move with the body, leaving workers uncomfortable or worse — poor fit and restricted movement can cause safety problems, such as slow response times in an emergency.
INTRODUCING: LYCRA® ANTISTATIC FIBER FOR KNITS
The latest innovation for workwear from the LYCRA® brand, LYCRA® ANTISTATIC fiber is a gamer-changer. This unique antistatic fiber is enhanced with additives that deliver reliable static dissipation while preserving the stretch comfort of classic LYCRA® fiber that wearers crave. With our antistatic spandex, workers can move freely, even in high-pressure environments, and take comfort in knowing they’re protected.
LYCRA® ANTISTATIC fiber can help fabrics qualify for global antistatic standards for workwear while ensuring comfort all day long. It can replace carbon and silver fibers in knit workwear, offering a more affordable, drop-in solution for knitters crafting high-performance fabrics.
“Static electricity poses a significant risk across a range of industries, from petrochemical and aerospace to pharmaceuticals and electronics. Workwear garments made with LYCRA® ANTISTATIC fiber can make a difference by dissipating static charges, preventing electrostatic discharges, and complying with regulations to protect workers — all with the desirable benefit of stretch comfort.”
David CapdevilaProduct marketing and merchandising manager The LYCRA Company
KEY BENEFITS OF LYCRA® ANTISTATIC FIBER
- Delivers antistatic properties to garments to help protect workers, reducing the risk of sparks that could ignite a fire or damage sensitive electronic equipment
- Due to the unique stretch and recovery properties of LYCRA® fiber, garments move with the worker, enhancing their wearing comfort
- Works in any garment type, including base layers, tops, bottoms, overalls, jackets, and vests
- Multiple decitex options available — 22, 33, 44, 78, and 117 — to maximize versatility in any knit fabric construction or weight
