Seam construction method of flexible apparel
A flexible apparel with non-stitch seams and a fabrication method thereof is provided. The non-stitch seams between foamed rubber sheets are sealed by coating a liquid sealant solution containing a thermoplastic polyurethane and a plasticizer.
1. A method of fabricating a flexible apparel comprising two foamed rubber sheets, consisting of the steps of:
A. preparing a liquid sealant solution having a viscosity of 250,000-480,000 cps, wherein the formulation of the liquid sealant solution is free of lubricant and consisting of:
100 parts by weight of thermoplastic polyurethane;
57.3-115 parts by weight of a plasticizer; and
a solvent;
B. coating the liquid sealant solution simultaneously on and inside a non-stitch seam between two foamed rubber sheets; and
C. placing at room temperature and without heating to dry and age the liquid sealant solution to form a flexible seal on and inside said seam between said two foamed rubber sheets to seal said two foamed rubber sheets to form said flexible apparel.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is an ester-type plasticizer.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer comprises dipropylene glycol dibenzoate.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a mixed solvent of methyl ethyl ketone, N, N-dimethyl formamide, and toluene.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foamed rubber sheets each is a foamed rubber layer alone, or a foamed rubber layer laminated with one or two fabric layers.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the width of the flexible seal is 3-15 mm.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the flexible seal is 0.4-1.2 mm.
8. The method of fabricating flexible apparel of claim 1 , wherein said flexible seal as formed is colored by adding pigment therein.