APPAREL MANUFACTURING – II 3(3+0)

Lesson 35 : Alternative Methods of Joining Materials

Adhesives

Welding and adhesives are being described together because there are similarities in the problems, which arise in the construction of seams using them.

The term adhesives are here used to mean a substance, which is ‘sticky’, whether it is a film of adhesive transferred from silicon paper which sticks immediately, or similar material, which must be heated so that it melts and sticks.

It is different from welding which uses the garment material to form the bond & a means other than direct heat to achieve it. A limited number only of garment construction methods make use of adhesives for seams:

1. The use of an adhesive thread, which can be sewn into the edge neatening of a hem as one of the looper threads. When the hem is pressed the thread melts & holds it in place without sewing
2. The use of adhesives in seams which will take no strain or which is top stitched. Patch pockets can be attached to garments by means of a strip of adhesive around edge. Yoke seams can be similarly attached using an adhesive & top stitched after wards.
3. The third use of adhesives does not relate to construction of seams but as a means of waterproofing by coating on the inside. The coating material used may be neoprene or other synthetic material, which gives breath ability as well as waterproofing. Aesthetically these materials are superior to PVC coated materials & with good flexibility & handling properties & then sewn with strong seams. These are then rendered waterproof by the application of sealing tape along the seam on the inside.

A special machine heats the tape to make stick & then rolls it under pressure firmly into place along the seam.