Swimming Caps Science

Please read, if your interested in swimming caps, custom swimming caps cheap swimming caps, discounted swim caps, or any swimming caps info.

Swimming caps, whether customised or plain have a product source, sometimes silicone is used other times it can be latex, but where do silicone and latex come from? and what is it!?

What is Silicone?

Silicones or silicone also is known as polysiloxanes also known as polymers, which are synthetic compounds made up of repeating components of a compound known as siloxane, this compound is a chain of alternating silicon atoms, along with oxygen atoms, and these are combined with elements such as carbon and hydrogen.

These components are heat – resistant and also rubber – these are often used as sealants – adhesives – lubricants some medicine along with some thermal and electrical insulations.. also other forms can include silicone grease – silicone rubber, silicone resins along with silicone.

latex in its basic form is a stable dispersion of polymer microparticles which are found in an aqueous medium form, these forms are found in nature, but synthetic latexes can also be made by emulsified and surfactants. The Latex that if found in nature is a milky fluid that’s found in 10% of ALL flowering plants, it’s a mixture of very complex emulsion consisting of proteins, starches, sugars, oils, and resins, and gums that  coagulate when exposed to the air in most plants the latex is white, but very often a light yellow, orange or even scarlet.. since the 17th century, latex has been used as a term for the term for guild substance in plants. It’s not so long back that people started using latex compounds in the production of the swimming cap.

The fact is that silicone caps can provide the swimmers head with a contoured comfy fit for your head, and while keeping everything in place. But is you have very little hair then a latex swimming cap can and most probably will provide a much better fit on your head: the latex swim cap will tend to stretch much more easily, and so they can be worn but virtually anyone from a very young swimmer to an old plodder…

At the start of the swimming history, swim caps were made from rubberised fabric and so during the early 20th century that how swimmer wore them. Moving forwards and by the late 1920s, they were being made of latex, these early latex swim caps had been known as aviator style swim caps, as they had resembled the strapped leather helmets of flyers of the day:

Then during the 1940s swimming caps became scarce as all the rubber was needed fit war materials. It was a very lucky girl who had a swim cap during these times, the 1950s saw a decorated cap and decorated swim caps became in vogue – then during the 1960s colourful flower petal swim caps became popular:

So then the means long hair styles of the late 1960s and early 70s made swimming pool operators change their rules so that swimmers required swim caps for swimming with long hair:

Moving forwards from then competitive swimming caps in the 80s and 90s and the worldwide build of indoor swim pools the swim caps then became popular once again: Now more than ever swimming caps are in use, using silicone, and in fact the latex with silicone being the most popular swimming cap!

What swim caps are best, but what other types?

The Latex Swimming Cap is a far thinner material than Silicone Swimming Caps. It is also less durable, and prone to ripping! Latex swim caps do rip more easily especially if you do not put them on properly or fail to take proper care of them, IE leaves them in the sun, or at the bottom of your swim kit bag!! Since they are lighter than silicone, latex caps allow for more “breath-ability.” Retaining less heat, these caps may be better suited for warmer climates in which heat loss is not an issue, you wouldn’t wish to swim in icy cold water with one on! Latex caps are also generally much cheaper than other types of swim caps. So if you’re looking for a cap that won’t break the bank and durability isn’t a concern, then latex is the way to go, these swimming caps are often used by schools, many children to require a cap, and as they are low budget these are perfect!

The Lycra Swimming Cap is a fully trademarked name for a synthetic fibre commonly known as spandex or elastane.The Swimming Caps made of spandex are very durable and will typically last for a long time if rinsed of chlorine after every use, even if they are left around in kit bags, or used every day.. Lycra swim caps are known to be very soft and will never catch or pull your hair, they also sit lightly on the head..

Since Lycra is a known fabric, however, these caps will allow water to flow through the material while swimming, so they are not fully water tight, get a wet head!?

A semi-permeable swim cap material is not as efficient as silicone or latex, but will still reduce drag to a greater extent than wearing no cap at all. And so because of this, Lycra swim caps are not ideal for use in competition, its extremely likely they will pop off after a very short time..they should primarily be used for practice or sun protection or ladies night swimming sessions.Wearing a higher resistance swimming cap during practice will actually help you perform better when wearing your silicone race-day cap. Getting your body accustomed to a higher level of resistance will allow for better performance when it comes to competition, using this principal you may also wish to consider drag swimming trunks.

Neoprene is a basic synthetic rubber, commonly used for wetsuit material. Just like the wetsuit, the purpose of a neoprene swim cap is to keep a thin layer of water close to your body to act as insulation, these types of swim caps are often used by swimmers swimming the English channel, where the water temp can be as low as 3 degrees. And for this reason, this makes neoprene caps an excellent choice for people who swim in cold pools, lakes, rivers, or the English channel. You will still need to wear a wetsuit though, unless your very strong contrary to the popular myth that 48% of heat loss is through your head, the head actually only accounts for only 15-18% of your body’s surface area, so a thermal swim cap will only help you if the rest of your body is covered as well, swimmers taking part in cold events, or swimming in icy water for fun often wear neoprene gloves and boots!. Since neoprene swim caps do not effectively reduce drag, these swim caps are more suited for open-water swimmers and triathletes than for competition swimmers racing in heated pools. In addition, neoprene caps do not pull hair, unless you have very very large amounts of hair that tangle up very easily!

So, If you are unable to find a cap made specifically for long hair, you may also wish to go up a size in a cap so you will have extra room for your hair if the cap you want comes in more than one size, or sizes.

For swimming in competition, different swimmers use different types of caps. The most common being made of silicone swim cap, as mentioned before the silicone is the favourite swim cap, this is then getting a created dome race cap, this extra strong silicone also know bullet race caps.When at a swim meet, coaches will normally provide the swimmer with a silicone cap with the club or team logo.If swimmers get into more serious swimming, I e Regional or National level, the use of dome caps may come into play. A dome cap is a swimming cap that is very tight and has the internal structure to ensure that your head is completely smooth to the touch. This is done to decrease drag that lumps of hair sticking up in a normal cap may cause, if a swimmer has shaved down for a major meet then elite swimwear is worn, and this is then backed up by wearing a dome race cap.

If you are considering swimming the English Channel the ECA English Channel Association state that one standard swimming cap may be used for any channel swim. The swimming cap itself must be approved by the official observer, or so-called channel official, who accompanies the swimmer on a pilot boat across the channel route. Standard swim caps that have been used by English Channel swimmers of record over the years include solid rubber, extra strong swim caps, moulded rubber swim caps with a thick chin strap, bubble rubber swim caps with chin strap, silicone swim caps and latex racing dome swim caps. Swim caps that have neoprene within the cap construction such as the Big Daddy or that are completely made of neoprene are not allowed for record English Channel swims, these would give the swimmer an effective barrier against the cold. Several other long distance swimming challenges that exist have similar rules for record fast swims. Swimming caps worn for open water swims should be of highly visible colours that contrast with the water so that observers may safely monitor them, and operators of vessels may see them, in the English Channel the boats are small, large and massive, the risk of being run over is high!!

What sir of ink is used for printing onto swimming caps

SI-Series Silicone Ink can print on any swimming caps, its a highly refined ink that is specialised for the purpose of swimming cap printing, it can also be used for other products.

Before the application you would simply mix, print and dry off.. once fully cured and dry, SI Series Silicone ink has a very high resistance to abrasion and has great flexibility, bent or stretched and put into high impact, the print will not crack, that make it perfect for swimming caps printing. Silicone Ink is highly glossy component ink. Curing time takes 10 minutes at high temp of about 200-250°F-

Once you have your printed or customised swim cap, or caps they are then are more than a style statement, team logos can identify you to your team members while you race,  they also protect your hair from the worst of exposure to pool chemicals at swim meets or during swimming training, and keep your hair from tangling in a pool filters or interfering with other swimmers, the list is quite long. The fact that swim caps are one-size-fits-all eliminates the worry of sizing when you compare cap, although young swimmers will have smaller heads! the only considerations that remain are material, fit (only of real concern if you have long hair) and style, but as mentioned before long haired swimming caps are available. But remember all the facts if yoke taken the time to read this interesting article.

So if you require swimming caps, custom swimming caps, or printed swimming caps contact US HERE