The present invention relates to a method for making a heat-resistant
elastic article and a heat-resistant elastic article. The invention
especially relates to a method of making elastic fibers and polymeric
elastic fibers wherein the elastic fibers are capable of withstanding
dyeing and heat-setting processes that typically are conducted at elevated
temperatures (such as 110-230.degree. C. and especially at greater than or
equal to 130.degree. C. for minutes). The inventive method comprises
radiation crosslinking an article (or plurality of articles) under an
inert or oxygen limited atmosphere (for example, in N.sub.2, argon,
helium, carbon dioxide, xenon and/or a vacuum) wherein the article (or
articles) comprises at least one amine stabilizer and preferably another
optional stabilizer additive. More preferably, the radiation crosslinking
is performed at a low temperature (-50 to 40.degree. C.). The elastic
article (or articles) comprises a homogeneously branched ethylene
interpolymer (preferably a substantially linear ethylene interpolymer), a
substantially hydrogenated block polymer, or a combination of the two. The
heat-resistant elastic articles (especially fibers) are useful in various
durable or repeated-use fabric applications such as, but not limited to,
clothing, under-garments, and sports apparel. The heat-resistant elastic
fibers can be conveniently formed into fabrics using well-known techniques
such as, for example, by using co-knitting techniques with cotton, nylon,
and/or polyester fibers.
