Carpet Glossary

A yarn formed by twisting together two or more plied yarns.

Caprolactam

The single basic ingredient in the production of Type 6 nylon. Caprolactam has a chain of six carbon atoms. It is a petrochemical.

Carding

The step after blending in the staple spinning process which combs out the loose fibers and arranges them in orderly strands called sliver. Sliver is drawn and blended, then twisted and further drawn into yarns.

See "Modular carpet or tile."

Nylon polymer that has been modified chemically to make the fiber receptive to cationic (basic) dyes. Cationic dyeable yarns are used in conjunction with acid dyeable yarns to produce multicolors in piece dye methods.

The ability or degree that a stain is removed from a carpet.

1. ultraviolet light,
2. crocking (wet or dry) and
3. atmospheric conditions (according to manufacturers' and government test standards).

An INVISTA technology that combines fibers to create random placement of color similar to a space dye aesthetics in the finished carpet. ColorLink technology is used for carpets of Antron® Legacy nylon, Antron® Brilliance™ nylon and Antron Lumena® solution dyed nylon.

1. The light under which the colors are compared. (The light source being used in the real conditions of the commercial environment should be used to match colors.)
2. The surface texture of the object being matched (cut pile carpet can appear darker than loop made of the same yarn).
3. The surface luster of the object being matched (higher yarn luster can look darker than lower luster fibers).

Matching of colors within acceptable tolerances or with a color variation that is barely detectable to the naked eye.

See "Air Entangling"

1. ) The carpet manufacturing method, usually tufted, woven or bonded. The key terms are illustrated on page 8. See also "Fusion Bonding."
2. The term also can refer to the specific details of a particular carpet's specification, including fiber type, yarn twist level, density, method of dyeing, etc.

Dyeing of carpet (greige) while it travels continuously through a dye range. The process is frequently referred to by the name of one of the prime machinery manufacturers, Eduard Kuster (pronounced "Kooster"). Continuous dyeing can produce multicolored or solid-colored carpet. Multicolored carpet is achieved by using yarns of varied dye affinity, or with various accessories that can give a pattern or overprint. Advantages include large dye lots, relatively low cost and color .exibility. However, this method is more critical than beck dyeing or yarn dyeing for side-to-side matching consistency (the carpet must be installed in roll sequence).

Unbroken strand of synthetic fiber, such as filament nylon or olefin. Nylon and olefin are made by extruding molten polymer through a spinnerette (similar to a showerhead). The fibers are cooled, then stretched and textured into bundles referred to as yarn. This yarn can be plied or commingled with other yarn and then tufted.

The process of applying heat to yarns to "set" or retain bulk, twist and spring introduced by spinning and/or twisting. Continuous heatsetting can be applied to staple or continuous filament yarns. The two primary types of continuous heatsetting equipment are the Superba, which uses steam and pressure, and the Suessen, which uses dry heat. (See "Heatsetting.")

An intermediate that usually buys raw fiber, processes it to a carpet manufacturer's specification, then sells the finished product to the carpet manufacturer.

The yarn numbering system based on length and weight originally used for cotton yarns and now employed for most staple yarns. It is based on a unit length of 840 yards, and the count of the yarn is equal to the number of 840-yard skeins required to weigh one pound. Under this system, the higher the number, the finer the yarn. A typical carpet yarn might be a three cotton count two plied, written as 3.0/2c.c.

The rack or frame located behind a tufting machine which holds the cones of pile yarn that feed into the needles of a tufting machine.

A national trade association representing the carpet and rug industry.

In fiber, a nonlinear configuration, such as a sawtooth, zigzag or random curl relative to the fiber axis. Most synthetic fibers, both staple and filament, used in carpets are crimped. Fiber crimp increases bulk and cover and facilitates interlocking of staple fibers in spun yarns. (See "Texturizing.")

The resistance of transfer of colorant from the surface of a colored yarn or fabric to another surface, or to an adjacent area of the same fabric, principally by rubbing.

The removal of dye from a fabric by rubbing. Crocking can be caused by insufficient dye penetration or fixation, the use of improper dyes or dyeing methods, or insufficient washing and treatment after the dyeing operation. Crocking can occur under dry or wet conditions.

The shape of a fiber when cut perpendicularly to its axis. Man-made fiber cross sections vary to produce a wide variety of physical effects such as soil-hiding characteristics, soil releasing, luster, and fineness or coarseness. Hollow filament fiber shapes are highly engineered and are among the most advanced filament cross sections. The delta is among the most advanced staple cross section.

The collapsing of pile yarns, resulting in carpet matting and loss of resilience. This form of carpet failure usually occurs in the areas of heaviest traffic. It is also called "matting" and "walking out." It can be minimized by the use of more resilient fibers, denser construction, somewhat higher weight and (in cut pile) with higher tuft twist and proper heatsetting.

The three-dimensional crimp patented by INVISTA for its BCF yarn. This texture is added to the yarn by a series of air jets. See "Texturizing." Curvilinear crimp gives consistency, bulk and spring-back memory that is needed in the manufacture of cut pile filament carpets and streak-free loop carpets.

Carpet having a cushion, padding or underlay material as an integral part of its backing.

Carpet whose face shows a pattern, either geometric or floral, made up of a combination of loop pile tufts and cut pile tufts. Also called cut/uncut. The carpet can be dyed solid or multicolored.

A pile surface created by cutting the loops of yarn in a tufted, woven or fusion-bonded carpet.