Knitted orthopedic fiberglass casting tapes and fiberglass fabrics (2)
Therefore, the larger the chain loop relative to yarn diameter, the greater the stretch. Similarly, the amount of yarn in the lay in stitch in excess of that needed to lock the chain rows together is proportional to the imparted stretch. Tricot knits usually result in greater extensibility because their construction allows the openings in the fabric to deform. Typically, as these orthopedic fiberglass casting tapes are extended in one direction, the fabric narrows in the perpendicular direction. Another basic type of knitting which results in stretchy fabrics is generally called tubular knitting which is commonly employed to knit socks, orthopedic stockinet, etc. A fabric called "Tubular Weave Stockinette" distributed by Otto Bach Orthopedic Industries, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a fiberglass fabric, knit by a Raschel machine and exhibits approximately 50% extensibility in the crosswise direction and approximately 175% extensibility in the lengthwise direction.
