®

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Celanese Acetate LLC nor any of its divisions or affiliates can accept liability of any kind for the accuracy or completeness thereof. Final determination of the suitability of any information or material for the use contemplated, or its manner of use, and whether the suggested use infringes any patents is the sole responsibility of the user.
©2001. Copyright Celanese Acetate LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Information about this book can be obtained from your Celanese Acetate sales or technical service representative or by contacting: 1-800-222-5543
Celanese Acetate Three Park Avenue New York, NY 10016 phone: 212-251-8050 fax: 212-251-8037

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Foreword ______________________________________________________
This Complete Textile Glossary is intended to be a convenient reference for textile terminology. Although it covers all types of textile terms broadly, its special emphasis is on manufactured fibers - what they are, how they are made, and how they are used. The first two editions of this dictionary were published under the title Man-Made Fiber and Textile Dictionary by the former Celanese Corporation to provide a source for employees. A third edition of the dictionary, with expanded listings and illustrations, was offered in response to numerous requests from customers and others in the textile industry for an up-to-date glossary of terms encountered in the manufactured fiber and textile trades. The fourth edition, known as the Dictionary of Fiber and Textile Technology, was produced by Hoechst Celanese Corporation, and included updated coverage of then-recent developments in fiber and textile technology. This current edition has been further updated and expanded to cover recent developments in fiberforming polymers, new commercially manufactured fibers, textile equipment advances, and new applications for textile materials such as geotextiles and advanced composites. New diagrams have been added to illustrate these developments. We have attempted to convey as much basic information as is possible without making the book cumbersome. As in previous editions, generic terms such as dyeing and knitting are handled comprehensively with specific terms presented under one heading. The more widely used manufactured fibers are listed by their Federal Trade Commission generic names and definitions, in most cases followed by a brief description of their manufacture, characteristics, and applications. In the Appendix are abbreviations, equivalent weights and measures, and various conversion tables and formulas needed by the textile technologist. We hope that this dictionary will help to familiarize you with the language of textiles. Only through you, can we determine its value, and we invite your comments.

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A
ABNORMAL CRIMP: A relative term for crimp that is either too low or too high in frequency and/or amplitude or that has been put into the fiber with improper angular characteristics. ABRADED YARN: A filament yarn in which filaments have been cut or broken to create hairiness (fibrillation) to simulate the surface character of spun yarns. Abraded yarns are usually plied or twisted with other yarns before use. ABRASION MARK: An area where a fabric has been damaged by friction. ABRASION RESISTANCE: The ability of a fiber or fabric to withstand surface wear and rubbing. ABSORBANCE: The ability of a substance to transform radiant energy into a different form, usually with a resulting rise in temperature. Mathematically, absorbance is the negative logarithm to the base 10 of transmittance. ABSORBENCY: The ability of one material to take up another material. ABSORPTION: The process of gases or liquids being taken up into the pores of a fiber, yarn, or fabric. (Also see ADSORPTION.) ACCELERANT: A chemical used to speed up chemical or other processes. For example, accelerants are used in dyeing triacetate and polyester fabrics. ACETATE FIBER: A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is cellulose acetate (FTC definition). Acetate is manufactured by treating purified cellulose refined from cotton linters and/or wood pulp with acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst. The resultant product, cellulose acetate flake, is precipitated, purified, dried, and dissolved in acetone to prepare the spinning solution. After filtration, the highly viscous solution is extruded through spinnerets into a column of warm air in which the acetone is evaporated, leaving solid continuous filaments of cellulose acetate. The evaporated acetone is recovered using a solvent recovery system to prepare additional spinning solution. The cellulose acetate fibers are intermingled and wound onto a bobbin or shippable metier cheese package, ready for use without further chemical processing. In the manufacture of staple fiber, the filaments from numerous spinnerets are combined into tow form, crimped, cut to the required length, and packaged in bales. CHARACTERISTICS: Acetate fabrics are in appearance fast-drying, wrinkle and shrinkage resistant, crisp or soft in hand depending upon the end use. END USES: The end uses of acetate include lingerie, dresses, blouses, robes, other apparel, linings, draperies, bedspreads, upholstery, carpets, umbrellas, formed fabrics, and cigarette filters.

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ACETIC ACID: An organic acid (CH3COOH) widely used in textile applications. It is used in textile wet processing, dyeing and printing, and in the manufacture of cellulose acetate and cellulose triacetate. ACETIC ANHYDRIDE: Anhydrous acetic acid [(CH3CO)2O]. It is used in the acetylation process in the manufacture of cellulose acetate. ACETONE: Dimethyl ketone (CH3COCH3). One of the most powerful organic solvents. Acetone dissolves secondary cellulose acetate and other derivatives of cellulose. It is miscible with water and has a low boiling point (55-56°C). ACETONE RECOVERY: A process for reclaiming the acetone solvent from acetate fiber or plastics manufacture. Usually the recovery process consists of adsorption by activated carbon and re-distillation. ACETYL: The radical (CH3CO-) of acetic acid. ACETYLATION: A chemical reaction whereby the acetyl radical is introduced into a compound, as in the conversion of cellulose to cellulose acetate. ACETYL VALUE: A measure of the degree of esterification or combination of acetyl radicals with cellulose in acetate or triacetate products. ACID-DYEABLE VARIANTS: Polymers modified chemically to make them receptive to acid dyes. ACID DYES: See DYES. ACID FADING: See GAS FADING. ACIDIC: A term describing a material having a pH of less than 7.0 in water. ACID RECOVERY: A reclamation process in chemical processing in which acid is extracted from a raw material, by-product, or waste product. In the manufacture of cellulose acetate, acetic acid is a major by-product. Acid recovery consists of combining all wash water containing appreciable acetic acid and concentrating it to obtain glacial acetic acid. ACID RESISTANCE: The property of withstanding contact or treatment with any acids normally encountered in use. The type of acid should be stated (i.e., organic or inorganic). ACRYLIC FIBER: A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of acrylonitrile units [-CH2-CH(CN)-] (FTC definition). Acrylic fibers are produced by two basic methods of spinning (extrusion), dry and wet. In the dry spinning method, material to be spun is dissolved is a solvent. After extrusion through the spinneret, the solvent is evaporated, producing continuous filaments which later may be cut into staple, if desired. In wet spinning, the spinning solution is extruded into a liquid coagulating bath to form filaments, which are drawn, dried, and processed.

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CHARACTERISTICS: Because acrylic fibers are thermoplastic, fabrics may be heat-set for wrinkle resistance and to provide permanency to pleats. Acrylic fabrics have low moisture absorbency and dry relatively quickly. In general, acrylic fibers are resistant to the degrading effects of ultraviolet rays in sunlight and to a wide range of chemicals and fumes. They provide warmth in fabrics that are lightweight, soft, and resilient. Acrylic fibers have relatively poor flame resistance compared with other fibers. Some acrylic fabrics, particularly knit types, approximate the hand of fine wool. Because of the composition and cross section of the fiber, fabrics made therefrom have a high bulk to weight ratio. This is further enhanced with the so-called “high bulk” spun yarns. END USES: End uses of acrylic fibers include floor coverings, blankets, and apparel uses such as suitings, pile fabrics, coats, collars, linings, dresses, and shirts. ACRYLIC RESIN: A polymer of acrylonitrile, used in the production of manufactured fibers, as a fabric finish and as a size. ACRYLONITRILE: A colorless, volatile, flammable liquid (CH2=CHCN) used as a raw material in the manufacture of acrylic polymers and fibers. ACTINIC DEGRADATION: See ULTRAVIOLET DEGRADATION. ACTINIC RESISTANCE: See ULTRAVIOLET RESISTANCE. ACTION STRETCH: A term applied to fabrics and garments that give and recover in both the lengthwise and the widthwise directions. Action stretch is ideal for tight-fitting garments such as ski pants. ACTIVATED CARBON: Charcoal, mostly of vegetable origin, of high adsorptive capacity. It is used for decolorizing liquids and other adsorption purifications. Usually made by carbonization and chemical activation. ADDITION POLYMERIZATION: A reaction yielding a polymer in which the molecular formula of the repeating unit is identical with that of the monomer. The molecular weight of a polymer so formed is a simple sum of the molecular weight of the combined monomer units. Combination occurs by means of rearrangement of the chemical bonds. ADDITIVE: A supplementary material combined with a base material to provide special properties. For example, pigments are used as dope additives to give color in mass dyeing.

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ADHESION: The force that holds different materials together at their interface and resists separation into two layers. ADHESION PROMOTERS: Products used to treat the smooth fiber-face of closely constructed base fabric to provide a chemical bonding site for subsequent coating. This step is done because it is difficult to get good coating adhesion via strikethrough and mechanical bonding in closely constructed fabrics. Products containing the isocyanate group are the most widely used promoters. (Also see DIP TREATING.) ADHESIVE ACTIVATED YARNS: Yarns treated by the fiber manufacturer to promote better adhesion to another material such as rubber and/or to allow easier processing. ADHESIVE MIGRATION: In nonwovens, the movement of adhesive together with its carrier solvent in a fabric during drying, giving it a non-uniform distribution within the web, usually increasing to the outer layers. ADHESIVES: In textiles, materials which cause fibers, yarns, or fabrics to stick together or to other materials. ADIPIC ACID: 1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid [COOH(CH2)4COOH]. It is used in the polymerization reaction to form nylon 66 polymers and in the manufacture of polyurethane foams. ADSORPTION: The attraction of gases, liquids, or solids to surface areas of textile fibers, yarns, fabrics, or any material. (Also see ABSORPTION.) ADVANCED COMPOSITE: Polymer, resin, or other matrix-material system in which reinforcement is accomplished via high-strength, high-modulus materials in continuous filament form or is discontinuous form such as staple fibers, fibrets, and in-situ dispersions. (Also see COMPOSITE.) AESTHETICS: In textiles, properties perceived by touch and sight, such as the hand, color, luster, drape, and texture of fabrics or garments. AFFINITY: Chemical attraction; the tendency of two elements or substances to unite or combine, such as fiber and dyestuff. AFTERGLOW: The flameless, glowing combustion of certain solid materials that occurs after the removal of an external source of ignition or after the cessation of combustion of the material. AFTERTREATMENT: Any treatment done after fabric production. In dyeing, it refers to treating dyed material in ways to improve properties; in nonwovens, it refers to finishing processes carried out after a web has been formed and bonded. Examples are embossing, creping, softening, printing, and dyeing. AGEING: 1. Deterioration of textile or other materials caused by gradual oxidation during storage and/or exposure to light. 2. The oxidation stage of alkali-cellulose in the manufacture of viscose rayon from bleached wood pulp. 3. Originally, a process in which printed fabric was exposed to a hot, moist atmosphere. Presently, the term is applied to the treatment of printed fabric in moist steam in the absence of air. Ageing is also used for the development of certain colors in dyeing, e.g., aniline black.

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AGER: A steam chamber used for ageing printed or padded material. AGGLOMERATION: A cluster of particles or fibers. AGITATE: To stir or to mix, as in the case of a dyebath or solution. AIR BAG: An automatically inflating bag in front of riders in an automobile to protect them from pitching forward in an accident. End use for manufactured textile fibers. AIR BRUSHING: Blowing color on a fabric or paper with a mechanized pneumatic brush. AIR CONDITIONING: 1. A chemical process for sealing short, fuzzy fibers into a yarn. Fabrics made from air-conditioned yarns are porous. Because they allow more air circulation, these fabrics are also cooler. 2. Control of temperature and/or humidity in work or living space. AIR ENTANGLED YARNS: See COMPACTED YARNS. AIR FORMING: A process in which air is used to separate and move fibers to fashion a web such as the Kroyer® process for short fibers, usually of wood pulp; or the Rando-Webber® process for staple-length fibers. AIR JET SPINNING: A spinning system in which yarn is made by wrapping fibers around a core stream of fibers with compressed air. In this process, the fibers are drafted to appropriate sliver size, then fed to the air jet chambers where they are twisted, first in one direction, then in the reverse direction in a second chamber. They are stabilized after each twisting operation. AIR JET TEXTURING: See TEXTURING. AIR-LAID NONWOVENS: Fabrics made by an air-forming process (q.v.). The fibers are distributed by air currents to give a random orientation within the web and a fabric with isotropic properties.

AIR PERMEABILITY: The porosity or the ease with which air passes through material. Air permeability determines such factors as the wind resistance of sailcloth, the air resistance of parachute cloth, and the efficacy of various types of air filters. It also influences the warmth or coolness of a fabric.

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AIRPLANE FABRIC: A plain, tightly woven, water-repellent fabric traditionally made of mercerized cotton. During World War I, the fabric was treated with a cellulose acetate dope and used to cover the wings, tail, and fuselage of airplanes. Today, similar fabrics made from nylon or polyester/cotton blends are used in rainwear and sportswear. AIR-SUPPORTED ROOF: A fabric-based roofing system that is supported and held in place by air pressure. ALBATROSS: A soft, lightweight wool or wool blend fabric in a plain weave with a napped, fleecy surface that resembles in texture, the breast of the albatross. It is usually light-colored and is used in negligees, infants’ wear, etc. ALGINATE FIBER: Fiber formed from a metallic salt (normally calcium) of alginic acid, which is a natural polymer occurring in seaweed. Alginate fiber is soluble in water. ALKALINE: A term used to describe a material having a pH greater than 7.0 in water. ALKYLATION: The introduction of an alkyl radical into an organic molecule. ALLOY: A solid or liquid mixture of two or more metals; or of one or more metals with certain nonmetallic elements formed by fusing the components. ALPACA: 1. Long, fine hair from Alpaca sheep. 2. A fabric from alpaca fibers or blends, (originally a cotton cloth with alpaca filling) that is used for dresses, coats, suits, and sweaters. It is also used as a pile lining for jackets and coats. (The term has been incorrectly used to describe a rayon fabric.) ALPACA STITCH: A 1 x 1 purl-links stitch that is knit so that the courses run vertically instead of horizontally as the fabric comes off the knitting machine. A garment made with an alpaca stitch is not always 100% alpaca; it can be made of other natural or manufactured fibers. ALPHA CELLULOSE: One of three forms of cellulose. Alpha cellulose has the highest degree of polymerization and is the chief constituent of paper pulp and chemical dissolving-grade pulp. (Also see BETA CELLULOSE and GAMMA CELLULOSE.) ALSIMAG®: Registered trademark of American Lava Corporation for ceramic materials. These materials are used in guides and discs on textile processing machines and fiber manufacturing equipment. ALTERNATING TWIST: A texturing procedure in which S and Z twist are alternately inserted in the yarn by means of a special heating arrangement. AMBIENT CONDITIONS: See ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS. AMINE END GROUP: The terminating (-NH2) group of a nylon polymer chain. Amine end groups provide dye sites for polyamides. AMORPHOUS: Noncrystalline, lacking regular geometrical shape. Used to describe certain regions in polymers.

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ANGORA: 1. The hair of the Angora goat. The long, fine fibers are so smooth and soft that they must be combined with other fibers in weaving. 2. The hair of the Angora rabbit. The fine, lightweight hair is warm, and it is often blended with wool to decrease price and to obtain novelty effects in weaving. By law, the fiber must be described as Angora rabbit hair. ANHYDRIDE: A compound formed by abstraction of water, usually from an acid. Example: acetic anhydride, which is used in converting cellulose to cellulose acetate. ANIDEX FIBER: A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 50% by weight of one or more esters of a monohydric alcohol and acrylic acid, (CH2=CH-COOH) (FTC definition). ANILINE DYES: See DYES. ANIMAL FIBERS: Fibers of animal origin such as wool, alpaca, camel hair, and silk. ANION: A negatively charged ion. ANISOTROPIC: Not having the same physical properties in every direction. In the plane of a fabric, it is related to a non-random distribution of fibers. ANTHRAQUINONE DYES: See DYES. ANTIBACTERIAL FINISH: A treatment of a textile material to make it resistant to, or to retard growth of, bacteria. ANTICHLOR: A chemical, such as sodium thiosulfate, used to remove excess chlorine after bleaching. ANTIFELTING AGENTS: Products that prevent or minimize matting and compaction of textile materials. ANTIFOAMING AGENT: An additive that minimizes the formation of bubbles within or on the surface of a liquid by reducing the forces that support the bubble’s structure. ANTIOXIDANT: A substance to retard deterioration (of fiber, fabrics, finishes, etc.) resulting from reaction with oxygen. ANTISOILING PROPERTIES: The properties of textile materials whereby they resist deposition of dirt and stains. ANTISTAINING PROPERTIES: The ability of a textile to resist the deposition of oil- or water-borne stains. ANTISTATIC AGENT: A reagent capable of preventing, reducing, or dissipating static electrical charges that may be produced on textile materials. ANTISTATIC PROPERTIES: The ability of a textile material to disperse an electrostatic charge and to prevent the build up of static electricity.

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APPLIQUE: A design made separately and then sewn on a cloth or garment. APRON MARK: See DECATING MARK. ARACHNE MACHINE: A machine for producing loop-bonded nonwovens. The fabric is formed by knitting a series of warp yarns through a fiber web processed on a card. (Also see BONDING, 2. Stitch Bonding.) ARAMID FIBER: A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming material is a long chain synthetic polyamide having at least 85% of its amide linkages (-NH-CO-) attached directly to two aromatic rings (FTC definition). Aramid fibers exhibit low flammability, high strength, and high modulus. Fabrics made from aramid fibers maintain their integrity at high temperatures, such fabrics are used extensively in hot-air filters. Aramids are also found in protective clothing, ropes and cables, and tire cord. ARGYLE: A pattern consisting of diamond shapes of different colors knit in a fabric. ARTIFICIAL TURF: A manufactured carpet having the appearance of grass. Used to replace grass in sports arenas, yards, etc. (Also see RECREATIONAL SURFACES.) ART LINEN: A plain-weave, softly finished fabric used either bleached or unbleached as a base fabric for needlework. ASBESTOS: A nonmetallic mineral fiber, which is nonflammable. The fiber is woven into fabrics and used for theater curtains and industrial uses where flame-resistant materials are needed. ASPECT RATIO: 1. The ratio of length to diameter of a fiber or yarn bundle. 2. In tire production, the ratio of the height of the tire to its width. 3. In a rectangular structure, the ratio of the longer dimension to the shorter. ASPHALT OVERLAY FABRICS: See GEOTEXTILES. ASTRAKHAN CLOTH: A thick knit or woven fabric with loops or curls on the face. The base yarns are usually cotton or wool and the loops are made with fibers such as mohair, wool, and certain manufactured fibers. The face simulated the pelt of the astrakhan lamb. ATACTIC POLYMER: A type of polymer molecule in which substituent groups or atoms are arranged randomly above and below the backbone chain of atoms, when the latter are all in the same plane (e.g., in polypropylene). (Also see ISOTACTIC POLYMER, SYNDIOTACTIC POLYMER, and TACTIC POLYMER.) ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS: In general, the relative humidity, barometric pressure, and temperature existing at a given time. ATMOSPHERIC FADING: See GAS FADING.

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ATTRITION MILLS: Machines for reducing materials into smaller particles by grinding down by friction. In the manufacture of acetate and triacetate fibers, equipment used in shredding pulp prior to acetylation. AUTOCLAVE: 1. An apparatus for carrying out certain finishing operation, such as pleating and heat setting, under pressure in a superheated steam atmosphere. 2. Apparatus for polymerizing condensation polymers such as nylon or polyester at any pressure above or below atmospheric. AVERAGE STIFFNESS: The ratio of change in stress to change in strain between two points on a stress-strain diagram, particularly the points of zero stress and breaking stress. (Also see MODULUS). AVERAGE TOUGHNESS: See TOUGHNESS. AXIAL YARN: A system of longitudinal yarns in a triaxial braid that are inserted between bias yarns. AXMINSTER CARPET: A machine-woven carpet in which successive weft-wise rows of pile are inserted during weaving according to a predetermined arrangement of colors. There are four main types of Axminster looms: Spool, Gripper, Gripper-Spool, and Chenille. AZLON FIBER: A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance consists of any regenerated naturally occurring proteins (FTC definition). Azlon is not currently produced in the United States. AZO DYES: See DYES. AZOIC DYES: See DYES, Naphthol Dyes.

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B
BACKCOATING: The application of latex or adhesive to the back of a carpet to anchor the tufts, usually followed immediately by addition of a secondary backing material such as woven jute or nonwoven polypropylene. BACKED CLOTH: A material with an extra warp or filling added for weight and warmth. Satin-weave and twill-weave constructions are frequently used in the design of backed cloth because they are relatively resistant to the passage of air. BACKFILLING: A solution composed of varying amounts of cornstarch, China clay, talc, and tallow that is applied to the back side of low-grade, low-cost cloth to change its hand, improve its appearance, and increase its weight. BACKING: 1. A general term for any system of yarn which interlaces on the back of a textile material. 2. A knit or woven fabric or plastic foam bonded to a face fabric. 3. A knot or woven fabric bonded to a vinyl or other plastic sheet material. 4. See CARPET BACKING. BACK-SIZING: See FILLER. BACKSTITCH: See PURL. BACK WARP: The warp which, along with the back filling, actually forms the second face (back) of double, triple, or quadruple fabrics. BACKWINDING: 1. Rewinding yarn or fiber from one type of package to another. Winding yarn as it is deknit. 2.

BACTERICIDAL FIBER: Fiber used for medical applications, socks, shoe liners, etc., in which bactericides are introduced directly into the fiber matrix as opposed to fiber simply having a bactericidal finish applied. BAGGING: 1. A fabric woven in cylindrical or tubular form on an ordinary cam loom and used for grain bags, etc. 2. Fabric bulging caused by extension at the knees, elbows, etc., of a garment lacking dimensional stability. BAGGY CLOTH: A fabric that does not lie flat, caused by sections of tight or loose yarns in either the warp or the filling. BAGGY SELVAGE: See SLACK SELVAGE. BALANCED CLOTH: A term describing a woven fabric with the same size yarn and the same number of threads per inch in both the warp and the filling direction. BALANCED TWISTS: In a plied yarn or cord, an arrangement of twist which will not cause the yarn or cord to twist on itself of kink when held in an open loop.

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BALE: A bag, sack, square or oblong box, or package into which silk, staple fibers, or tow are compressed. The common shipping and storage package for these fibers. BALLING UP: A defect in which loose or frayed fibers form into a ball and are then woven into the fabric. BALL MILL: A standard method of reducing water-insoluble substances such as pigments or dyestuffs to a fine state of division. It consists of a cylinder, rotating on an axis, partly filled with steel balls, porcelain balls, or common pebbles. The controlling factors are size of balls, relative volumes occupied by balls and substance, type and quality of substance, and rate and time of rotation. BALLOON: The curved paths of running yarns about the take-up package during spinning, downtwisting, plying, or winding, or while they are being withdrawn over-end from packages under appropriate yarnwinding conditions. BALLOON FABRIC: A plain-weave cloth having the same breaking strength in each direction. This fabric is made from fine (60’s to 100’s) combed yarn woven to constructions of 92 x 108 to 116 x 128. Vulcanized balloon fabric is used for air cells in planes and barrage balloons. BALL WARP: Parallel threads in the form of a twistless rope wound into a large ball. When wound mechanically with quick traverse a ball warp may be made in the form of a large cylindrical package. BANDING, HEAVY TOW: Nonuniform distribution of filaments across towband width. BANDLE: A coarse homespun linen made on narrow hand looms in Ireland. BANK: Another name for a yarn creel. BARATHEA: 1. A silk, rayon, or manufactured fiber necktie fabric with a broken rib weave and a characteristic pebbly appearance. 2. A fine, dress fabric with a silk warp and worsted filling, woven in a broken filling rib which completely covers the warp. 3. A smooth-faced worsted uniform cloth with an indistinct twilled basket weave of fine two-ply yarns. BAR CODE: Adjacent stripes of varying width used to represent alpha-numeric characters. These permit rapid reading by means of electronic scanners. BARKING: The removal of bark from wood prior to pulping. BARRE: A defect characterized by bars or streaks, fillingwise in woven fabrics or coursewise in weft-knit fabrics, caused by uneven tension in knitting, defective yarn, improper needle action, or other similar factors. BASE FABRIC: In coated fabrics, the underlying substrate (q.v.). BASIC: A term describing substances having an alkaline nature. Bases may or may not be water soluble.

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BASIC DYES: See DYES. BASIS WEIGHT: The weight of a unit area of fabric. Examples are ounces per square yard and grams per square centimeter. BASKET STITCH: In this knit construction, purl and plain loops are combined with a preponderance of purl loops in the pattern courses to give a basket-weave effect. BASKET WEAVE: A variation of the plain weave in which two or more warp and filling threads are woven side by side to resemble a plaited basket. Fabrics have a loose construction and a flat appearance and are used for such things as monk’s cloth and drapery fabrics. BAST FIBER: Any of certain strong, woody fibers used in making rope, cordage etc. BATHROBE BLANKETING: A double-faced fabric woven with a tightly twisted spun warp and two sets of soft spun filling yarns. The fabric is thick and warm and its filling yarns are frequently napped to produce a soft surface. Today’s blankets are made of spun polyester, acrylic, or polyester/cotton blends. BATIK: See DYES. BATISTE: 1. A sheer, woven, mercerized fabric of combed cotton or polyester/cotton resembling nainsook, only finer, with a lengthwise streak. 2. A rayon fabric decorated with dobby woven striped and Jacquard florals. 3. A smooth, fine, woven fabric, lighter that challis and very similar to nun’s veiling. BATTING: A soft, bulky assembly of fibers, usually carded. Battings are sold in sheets or rolls and used for warm interlinings, comforter stuffings, and other thermal or resiliency applications. BAYARDERE: A very broad term for stripes that run crosswise in a knit or woven fabric. BCF YARNS: Bulked continuous filament yarns for carpet trade, usually nylon, polypropylene, or polyester. BEADED SELVAGE: See LOOPY SELVAGE. BEADED VELVET: Velvet with a cut-out pattern or a velvet pile effect, made on a Jacquard loom. This fabric is used primarily for evening wear. BEAM: A cylinder of wood or metal, usually with a circular flange on each end, on which warp yarns are wound for slashing, weaving, and warp knitting. BEAM DYEING MACHINE: A machine for dyeing warp yarns or fabrics that have been wound onto a special beam, the barrel of which is evenly perforated with holes. The dye liquor is forced through the yarn or fabric from inside to outside and vice versa.

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BEAMING: The operation of winding warp yarns onto a beam usually in preparation for slashing, weaving, or warp knitting. Also called warping. BEAMROLL: See BEAM. BEARDED SPRING NEEDLE: See SPRING NEEDLE. BEARDING: Fuzz on loop pile carpets usually resulting from poor anchorage or fiber snagging. BEATER: 1. The machine which does most of the opening and cleaning work on a fiber picker and opener. Revolving at high speed, it beats against the fringe of fiber as the latter is fed into the machine. 2. A machine used in the paper industry for opening pulp and combining additives. BEATING-UP: The last operation of the loom in weaving, in which the last pick inserted in the fabric is “beat” into position against the preceeding picks. BEAVER CLOTH: Made of high-quality wool, this heavy but soft fabric has a deep nap. Beaver cloth is frequently used in overcoats. BECK: A vessel for dyeing fabric in rope form, consisting primarily of a tank and a reel to advance the fabric. BEDFORD CORD: A rib-weave fabric with raised lengthwise cords produced by using stuffing threads in the warp. Since the fabric is strong and wears well, it is used for upholstery, suits, riding habits, and work clothes. BEETLING: A process in which round-thread linen or cotton fabric is pounded to give a flat effect. Beetled linen damask has an increased luster and a leather-like texture. Beetling is also used to give a thready or linen-like appearance to cotton. BENDING LENGTH: A measure of fabric stiffness based on how the fabric bends in one plane under the force of gravity. BENDING MODULUS: Maximum stress per unit area that a specimen can withstand without breaking when bent. For fibers, the stress per unit of linear fiber weight required to produce a specified deflection of a fiber. BENDING RIGIDITY: See FLEXURAL RIGIDITY.

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BENGALINE: A fabric similar to faille, only heavier, with a fine weave and widthwise cords. Originally, bengalines were made of a silk, wool, or rayon warp with a worsted or cotton filling and used for dresses, coats, trimmings, and draperies. Modern bengalines are made with filament acetate or polyester warps. Also, some bengalines have fine spun warps with 2- and 3-ply heavier spun yarns for filling cord effects. BENZENE: A volatile, flammable, colorless liquid hydrocarbon, (C6H6), used as an illuminant, a solvent for fats and resins, a raw material in dye synthesis, and the hydrocarbon source for many manufactured fibers. BENZOATE FIBER: Fiber with a silk-like hand made from a condensation polymer of p-(Bhydroxyethoxy)benzoic acid. BETA CELLULOSE: One of the three forms of cellulose. It has a lower degree of polymerization that the alpha form. With gamma cellulose it is known as hemicellulose. (Also see ALPHA CELLULOSE and GAMMA CELLULOSE.) BIAS FABRIC: A two-dimensional fabric that when oriented in the XY plane contains fibers that are aligned in a different direction, i.e., 45° to the X-axis fibers. BIAS FILLING: A fabric defect in which the filling yarn does not run at a right angle to the warp. The principal cause is improper processing on the tenter frame. (Also see BOW.) BICOMPONENT FIBERS: See COMPOSITE FIBERS. BICOMPONENT YARNS: Spun or filament yarns of two generic fibers or two variants of the same generic fiber. BICONSTITUENT FIBER: A fiber extruded from a homogeneous mixture of two different polymers. Such fibers combine the characteristics of the two polymers into a single fiber. BIDIRECTIONAL FABRIC: A fabric having reinforcing fibers in two directions, i.e., in the warp (machine) direction and filling (cross-machine) direction. BILATERAL FIBERS: Two generic fibers or variants of the same generic fiber extruded in a side-by-side relationship. BINDER: An adhesive applied with a solvent or a softenable plastic melted to bond fibers together in a web or to bind one web to another. BINDER CONTENT: The weight of adhesive used to bond the fibers of a web together. Usually expressed as percent of fabric weight. BINDER FIBERS: Fibers that can act as an adhesive in a web because their softening point is relatively low compared with that of the other fibers in the material. BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (B.O.D.): A standard test for estimating the degree of contamination of water supplies. It is expressed as the quantity of dissolved oxygen (in mg/liter) required during stabilization of the decomposable organic matter by aerobic biochemical action.

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BIODEGRADABLE: The ability of a substance to be broken down by bacteria so that it can be returned to the environment without posing an environmental hazard. BIRDSEYE: 1. A generic term describing a cloth woven on a dobby loom, with a geometric pattern having a center dot resembling a bird’s eye. Originally birdseye was made of cotton and used as a diaper cloth because of its absorbent qualities, but now the weave is made from a variety of fibers or fiber blends for many different end uses. 2. A speckled effect on the back of a knit fabric resulting from the use of different colors on the face design. BIREFRINGENCE: An optical term meaning double refraction, and used in examination of manufactured fibers to measure the degree of molecular orientation effected by stretching or drawing. BLANKET: An unquilted bedding fabric designed primarily to provide thermal insulation. BLANKET MARK: See CORRUGATION MARK. BLEACHING: Any of several processes to remove the natural and artificial impurities in fabrics to obtain clear whites for finished fabric or in preparation for dyeing and finishing. BLEB: A blister or bubble on the face of a spinning jet, interrupting the extrusion of the filament from the spinneret hole involved. BLEB RATE: The frequency of bleb formation in an extrusion operation. BLEEDING: Loss of color by a fabric or yarn when immersed in water, a solvent, or a similar liquid medium, as a result of improper dyeing or the use of dyes of poor quality. Fabrics that bleed can cause staining of white or light shade fabrics in contact with them while wet. BLEND: 1. A yarn obtained when two or more staple fibers are combined in a textile process for producing spun yarns (e.g., at opening, carding, or drawing). 2. A fabric that contains a blended yarn (of the same fiber content) in the warp and filling. BLENDING: The combining of staple fibers of different physical characteristics to assure a uniform distribution of these fibers throughout the yarn. BLINDING: Loss of luster of fibers after wet processing. BLISTER: A bulge resulting from separation of coating or laminating material from the base fabric. BLOCK PRINTING: See PRINTING. BLOOM: The appearance of brightness of a dyed fabric when the fabric is viewed across the top while held at eye level. BLOOMING: See OPENING, 2. BLOTCH: See FINISHING SPOT. BLOTCH PRINTING: See PRINTING.

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BOARDY: A term used to describe a fabric with a very stiff hand. BOBBIN: A cylindrical or slightly tapered barrel, with or without flanges, for holding slubbings, rovings, or yarns. BOBTEX® ICS YARN SYSTEM: A process for producing a simulated spun yarn by embedding individual fibers in a thermoplastic or adhesive coating on a filament yarn. BODY: The compact, solid, or firm feel of a fabric. BOILING WATER SHRINKAGE: A test designed to measure shrinkage in a cord, yarn, or high-shrinkage fiber when it is immersed in boiling water while under a tension of 0.05 grams/denier. BOIL OFF: See SCOURING. BOLT: A roll or piece of fabric of varying length. BONDED FABRIC: 1. A fabric containing two or more layers of cloth joined together with resin, rubber, foam, or adhesive to form one ply. 2. See NONWOVEN FABRIC. BONDING: 1. A process for adhesive laminating two or more fabrics or fabric and a layer of plastic foam. There are two methods: the flame method used for bonding foam and the adhesive method used for bonding face and backing fabrics. 2. One of several processes of binding fibers into thin sheets, webs, or battings by means of adhesives, plastics, or cohesion (self-bonding). (Also see NEEDLED FABRICS and NEEDLE LOOM.)

Bonding with Binder Fibers: Specially engineered low-melting point fibers are blended with other fibers in a web, so that a uniformly bonded structure can be generated at low temperature by fusion of the binder fiber with adjacent fibers. Point Bonding: The process of binding thermoplastic fibers into a nonwoven fabric by applying heat and pressure so that a discrete pattern of fiber bonds is formed. Also called spot bonding. Print Bonding: A process of binding fibers into a nonwoven fabric by applying an adhesive in a discrete pattern. Saturation Bonding: A process of binding fibers into a nonwoven fabric by soaking the web with an adhesive.

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Spray Bonding: A process of binding fibers into a nonwoven fabric involving the spray application of a fabric binder. Spray Spinning: See SPUN-BONDED PRODUCTS. Stitch Bonding: A bonding technique for nonwovens in which the fibers are connected by stitches sewn or knitted through the web. Also known as quilting. BOND STRENGTH: 1. The amount of force required to delaminate a piece of woven or knitted fabric from its backing. 2. The amount of force required to break the fusion points found in certain nonwovens. 3. The amount of force required to break the chemical bonds between atoms in molecules and crystalline salts. 4. See PEEL ADHESION. BOOK CLOTH: Print cloth treated with pyroxylin or starch and clay and used in bookbinding. BOOK FOLD: A method of folding finished fabric in which the fabric is first folded in half widthwise, then folded back and forth in equal lengths. Finally, the fold edge on each side is folded to the inside, forming a compact bundle equal in length to one-half the width of the goods. BORON FIBER: A vapor-deposited filament made by depositing boron on a heated tungsten wire. These fibers are being developed for use in aircraft and space applications. They can be woven into fabrics. BOSS: That part of a drafting roll of largest diameter where the fibers are gripped. It may be an integral part of the roll, as in steel rolls, or it may have a covering of leather, cork, etc. In the former case, the boss is fluted. BOUCLÉ: A fabric woven or knit with bouclé yarns. Bouclé fabric has a looped or knotted surface and is used for sportswear and coats. BOUCLÉ YARN: A novelty yarn with loops which give fabrics a rough appearance. Some bouclé yarns have cotton cores with other fibers wound around them. Bouclé yarns may be made from wool, cotton, silk, linen, manufactured fibers, or combinations of fibers. BOURRELET: A double-knit fabric with raised loops running horizontally across the surface of the cloth giving a rippled or corded effect. BOW: The greatest distance, measured parallel to the selvages, between a filling yarn and a straight line drawn between the points at which this yarn meets the selvages. Bow may be expressed directly in inches or as a percentage of the width of the fabric at that point. BOX LOOM: A loom using two or more shuttles for weaving fabrics with filling yarns that differ in fiber type, color, twist, level, or yarn size. The box motion is automatic, changing from one shuttle to another. Examples of fabrics made on box looms are crepes and ginghams. BOX MARK: A fine line parallel to the filling caused by shuttle damage to a group of filling yarns.

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BRAID: 1. A narrow textile band, often used as trimming or binding, formed by plaiting several strands of yarn. The fabric is formed by interfacing the yarns diagonally to the production axis of the material. 2. In aerospace textiles, a system of three or more yarns which are interlaced in such a way that no two yarns are twisted around each other. Biaxial Braid: Braided structure with two yarn systems one running in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. Triaxial Braid: A braided structure with axial yarns running in the longitudinal direction. BRAID ANGLE: The acute angle measured from the axis of a fabric or rope to a braiding yarn. BRAIDED FABRIC: A narrow fabric made by crossing a number of strands diagonally so that each strand passed alternatively over or under one or more of the other strands. They are frequently used in shoelaces and suspenders. BRAIDING: The intertwining of three or more strands to make a cord. The strand form a regular diagonal pattern down the length of the cord. BREAK FACTOR: A measure of yarn strength calculated as: (1) the product of breaking strength times indirect yarn number, or (2) the product of breaking strength times the reciprocal of the direct yarn number. BREAKING LENGTH: A measure of the breaking strength of a yarn; the calculated length of a specimen whose weight is equal to its breaking load. The breaking length expressed in kilometers is numerically equal to the breaking tenacity expressed in grams-force per tex. BREAKING LOAD: The maximum load (or force) applied to a specimen in a tensile test carried to rupture. It is commonly expressed in grams-force (kilograms-force), pounds, or newton’s. (Also see BREAKING STRENGTH.) BREAKING RATIO: See BREAK FACTOR. BREAKING STRENGTH: 1. The maximum resultant internal force that resists rupture in a tension test. The expression “breaking strength” is not used for compression tests, bursting tests, or tear resistance tests in textiles. 2. The load (or force) required to break or rupture a specimen in a tensile test made according to a specified standard procedure. (Also see BREAKING LOAD.) BREAKING TENACITY: The tensile stress at rupture of a specimen (fiber, filament, yarn, cord, or similar structure) expressed as newtons per tex, grams-force per tex, or gram-force per denier. The breaking tenacity is calculated from the breaking load and linear density of the unstrained specimen, or obtained directly from tensile testing machines which can be suitably adjusted to indicate tenacity instead of breaking load for specimens of known linear density. Breaking tenacity expressed in grams-force per tex is numerically equal to breaking length expressed in kilometers. BREAK-OUT: See SMASH.

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BREAK SPINNING: A direct spinning process for converting manufactured fiber tows to spun yarn that incorporates prestretching and tow breaking with subsequent drafting and spinning in one operation. BRIGHT: The term applied to fibers whose luster has not been reduced by physical or chemical means; the opposite of dull or matte. BRISTLE: 1. A short, stiff, coarse fiber. 2. The hair of the hog. BRITTLE POINT: The temperature at which a polymer no longer exhibits viscoelastic properties. BROADCLOTH: 1. Originally, a silk shirting fabric so named because it was woven in widths exceeding the usual 29 inches. 2. A tightly woven, lustrous cotton or polyester/cotton blend fabric in a plain weave with a crosswise rib. It resembles poplin, but the rib is finer, and broadcloth always has more picks that poplin. The finest qualities are made with combed pima or Egyptian cotton. 3. A smooth, rich-looking, woolen fabric with a napped face and a twill back. Better grades have a glossy, velvety hand. BROAD GOODS: Woven fabrics 18 inches or more in width. BROADLOOM: A term that refers to carpets woven in widths from 54 inches to 18 feet, as distinguished from narrow loom widths of 27 to 36 inches. BROCADE: 1. A rich, Jacquard-woven fabric with an all over interwoven design of raised figures or flowers. The pattern is emphasized by contrasting surfaces or colors and often has gold or silver threads running through it. The background may be either a satin or a twill weave. 2. A term describing a cut-pile carpet having a surface texture created by mixing twisted and straight standing pile yarns. BROCATELLE: A fabric similar to brocade with a satin or twill figure in high relief on a plain or satin background. BROKEN END: A broken, untied warp thread in a fabric. There are numerous causes, such as slubs, knots, improper shuttle alignment, shuttle hitting the warp shed, excessive warp tension, faulty sizing, and rough reeds, heddles, dropwires, and shuttles. (Also see END OUT.) BROKEN PICK: A broken filling thread in a fabric. Usual caused include too much shuttle tension, weak yarn, or filling coming into contact with a sharp surface. BROKEN SELVAGE: See CUT SELVAGE. BRUISE: See ABRASION MARK. BRUSHING: A finishing process in which rotating brushes raise a nap on knit or woven fabrics. Brushing is used on sweaters, scarves, knit underwear, wool broadcloths, etc. BUCKET SPINNING: See POT SPINNING. BUCKRAM: A scrim fabric with a stiff finish, often used as interlining.

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BUILDUP: A term applied to substantivity of dye for a textile material. It refers to the ability of a dye to produce deep shades. BULK DEVELOPMENT: Any of various relaxation treatments to produce maximum bulk in textured or latent crimp yarns or in fabrics made therefrom. The essential conditions are heat, lubrication, movement, and the absence of tension. Bulk development may be accomplished during wet processing or may be a separate operation such as hot-air tumbling, steam-injection tumbling, or dry cleaning. BULKED YARN: See TEXTURED YARNS. BUNTING: A soft, flimsy, loose-textured, plain weave cloth most frequently used in flags. Bunting was originally made from cotton or worsted yarns, but today’s flags are made primarily from nylon or acrylic fibers. BURLAP: A coarse, heavy, plain weave fabric constructed from singles yarn of jute. Used for bags, upholstery lining, in curtains and draperies. BURLING: 1. The process of removing loose threads and knots from fabrics with a type of tweezers called a burling iron. 2. The process of correcting loose tufts and replacing missing tufts following carpet construction. BURNING RATE: The speed at which a fabric burns. It can be expressed as the amount of fabric affected per unit time, in terms of distance or area traveled by the flame, afterglow, or char. BURN-OUT PRINTING: See PRINTING. BURR: A device that assists in loop formation on circular-knitting machines equipped with spring needles. BURSTING STRENGTH: 1. The ability of a material to resist rupture by pressure. 2. The force required to rupture a fabric by distending it with a force applied at right angles to the plane of the fabric under specified condition. Bursting strength is a measure widely used for knit fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and felts where the constructions do not lend themselves to tensile tests. The two basic types of bursting tests are the inflated diaphragm method and the ball-bust method. BUTCHER’S LINEN: A plain weave, stiff fabric with thick and thin yarns in both the warp and the filling. The fabric was originally made of linen but is now duplicated in 100% polyester or a variety of blends such as polyester/rayon or polyester/cotton.

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C
CABINET: A basic part of the manufactured-fiber spinning machine where, in dry spinning, the filaments become solidified by solvent evaporation and, in melt spinning, the filaments are solidified by cooling. CABLED YARN: A yarn formed by twisting together two or more plied yarns. CABLE STITCH: A knit effect produced by crossing a group of stitches over a neighboring stitch group. CABLE TWIST: A construction of thread, yarn, cord, or rope in which each successive twist is in the direction opposite the preceding twists; i.e., and S/Z/S or Z/S/Z construction. CALENDER: A machine used in finishing to impart a variety of surface effects to fabrics. A calender essentially consists of two or more heavy rollers, sometimes heated, through which the fabric passes under heavy pressure. CALENDER COATING: See COATING. CALENDERING: A mechanical finishing process for fabrics to produce special effects, such as high luster, glazing, moiré, and embossed effects. In this operation, the fabric is passed between heated rolls under pressure. CALENDERING ROLLS: 1. The main cylinders on a calender. 2. Smooth or fluted rolls used on carious fiber-processing machines such as pickers and cards to compress the lap or sliver as it passes between them. CALICO: A plain, closely woven, inexpensive cloth, usually cotton or a cotton/manufactured fiber blend, characteristically having figured patterns on a white or contrasting background. Calico is typically used for aprons, dresses, and quilts. CALORIMETRY: The process of measuring quantities of absorbed or evolved heat, often used to determine specific heat. CAM: A rotating or sliding piece or projection used to impart timed or periodic motion to other parts of a machine. It is used chiefly as a controlling or timing element in machines rather than as part of a power transmission mechanism. Cams are particularly important in both knitting and weaving machinery. CAMBRIC: A soft, white, closely woven, cotton or cotton blend fabric that has been calendered on the right side to give it a slight gloss. Cambric is used extensively for handkerchiefs. CAN: 1. A cylindrical container, about 3 feet high and 10 to 12 inches in diameter, that is used to collect sliver delivered by a card, drawing frame, etc. 2. See DRYING CYLINDERS.

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CANDLE FILTER: A small filter interposed between the spinning pump and spinning jet to effect final filtration of the spinning solution prior to extrusion. CANDLE WATER TEMPERATURE: The temperature of the water surrounding the candle filter or within the heating jacket during fiber extrusion. CANDLEWICK FABRIC: An unbleached muslin base fabric used to produce a chenille-like fabric by applying candlewick (heavy-plied yarn) loops and cutting the loops to give a fuzzy effect. CANTON FLANNEL: A heavy cotton or cotton blend material with a twilled face and a napped back. The fabric’s strength, warmth, and absorbance make it ideal for interlinings and sleeping garments. CANVAS: See DUCK. CAPACITANCE: The measure of the ability of a nonconductor to store electrical energy by means of the potential difference across the surfaces of the nonconductor. CAPROLACTAM: A white, crystalline, cyclic amide (C6H11NO) which yields ε-amino-caproic acid on hydrolysis and is used as a raw material in the manufacture of nylon 6. CAP SPINNING: A system of spinning employing a stationary, highly polished metal cap just large enough to fit over the take-up bobbin, which revolves at a high rate of speed. The cap controls the build and imparts sufficient tension to the yarn for winding. The yarn is twisted and wound onto packages simultaneously. CARBON-ARC LAMP: A type of fading lamp which utilizes an arc between two carbon electrodes as the source of radiation. CARBON FIBER: A high-tensile fiber or whisker made by heating rayon or polyacrylonitrile fibers or petroleum residues to appropriate temperatures. Fibers may be 7 to 8 microns in diameter and are more that 90% carbonized. CARBONIZING: A chemical process for eliminating cellulosic material from wool or other animal fibers. The material is reacted with sulfuric acid or hydrogen chloride gas followed by heating. When the material is dry, the carbonized cellulose material is dust-like and can be removed. CARBOXYL END GROUP: The chain-terminating (-COOH) group found in polyamide and polyester polymers. CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE: An acid ether derivative of cellulose formed by the reaction of alkali cellulose with chloroacetic acid. The sodium salt of this compound is commonly used as a stabilizer or an emulsifier. CARD: A machine used in the manufacture of staple yards. Its functions are to separate, align, and deliver the fibers in a sliver form and to remove impurities. The machine consists of a series
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of rolls, the surfaces of which are covered with many projecting wired or metal teeth. Short staple systems employ flat strips covered with card clothing rather that small rolls. (Also see FLAT CARD.) CARD CHOKING: See CYLINDER LOADING. CARD CLOTHING: The material used to cover the working surfaces of the card, i.e., cylinder and rolls or flats. The clothing consists of either wire teeth set in a foundation fabric or rubber, or narrow serrated metal flutes which are spirally arranged around the roll. The metallic wire has the appearance of band-saw blade. CARD CONVERSION EFFICIENCY: The efficiency of the carding process, expressed as a percentage obtained from ratio of sliver output to staple input. CARDED YARN: A cotton yarn that has been carded but not combed. Carded yarns contain a wider range of fiber lengths and, as a result, are not as uniform or as strong as combed yarns. They are considerably cheaper and are used in medium and course counts. CARDIGAN: 1. A modification of the rib-knitting stitch to allow tucking on one (half cardigan) or both(full cardigan) sets of needles. 2. A sweater that buttons down the front. CARDING: A process in the manufacture of spun yarns whereby the staple is opened, cleaned, aligned, and formed into a continuous, untwisted strand called a sliver. CARE LABEL: The label that gives directions for cleaning, ironing, and otherwise maintaining a fabric of fiber product. CARPET BACKING: A primary backing through which the carpet tufts are inserted is always required for tufted carpets. The backing is usually made of woven jute or nonwoven manufactured fiber fabrics. A secondary backing, again made of jute or manufactured fibers, is normally added at the latex backcoating stage. Carpet backings are an important end use for nonwoven fabrics. CARPETS: Heavy functional and ornamental floor coverings consisting of pile yarns or fibers and a backing system. They may be tufted or woven. (Also see TUFTED CARPET.) CARPET UNDERLAY: A separate fabric which is used to provide cushioning for carpet. Carpet underlays are made of hair and jute, sponge rubber, bonded urethane or foamed urethane. CARRIER: 1. A product added to a dyebath to promote the dyeing of hydrophobic manufactured fibers and characterized by affinity for, and ability to swell, the fiber. 2. A moving holder for a package of yarn used on a braiding machine. 3. A term sometimes used to describe the tube or bobbin on which yarn is wound. CARRIERLESS DYEING VARIANTS: Polymers that have been modified to increase their dyeability. Fibers and fabrics made from these polymers can be dyed at the boil without the use of carriers. CASEMENT CLOTH: A general term applied to lightweight, sheer fabrics used for curtains and for screening purposes and as a backing for heavy drapery fabrics of the decorative type. This type of fabric is sometimes made in small fancy weaves for dresswear.

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CASHMERE: The extremely soft hair of the Cashmere goat. Cashmere is often blended with sheep’s wool in fabrics. CAST COATING: See COATING. CATALYST: A chemical that accelerates a reaction. The catalyst is not part of the reaction but increases the rate at which it takes place. CATERPILLAR: A large slub formed in a combination or plied yarn as a result of one of the ends breaking and sliding or skinning back along the other yarn. CAT EYE: See PINHOLE. CATION: A positively charged ion. CATIONIC DYEABLE VARIANTS: Polymers modified chemically to make them receptive to cationic dyes. CATIONIC DYES: See DYES, Basic Dyes. CAUSTIC SODA: The common name for sodium hydroxide. CALAVRY TWILL: A pronounced, raised cord on a 63-degree twill weave characterizes this rugged cloth usually made from wool or wool blend yarns. CELLOPHANE: A generic term for regenerated cellulose film, which is used primarily for packaging. The film is transparent and may be dyed in many colors or coated to render it moisture proof or heat-sealable. CELLULOSE: A carbohydrate which is the chief component of the cell walls of plants. Cellulose is found in wood and in cotton, linen, jute, hemp, and all of the bast, leaf, and stem fibers. It is a basic raw material in the manufacture of rayon, acetate, and triacetate fibers. CELLULOSE ACETATE: See ACETATE FIBER. CELLULOSIC FIBER: A fiber composed of, or derived from, cellulose. Examples are cotton (cellulose), rayon (regenerated cellulose), acetate (cellulose acetate), and triacetate (cellulose triacetate). CENTERING MARK: See CLIP MARK CENTER LOOP: See KINK. CENTRIFUGAL POT: See POT SPINNING. CENTRIFUGE: A machine that employs centrifugal force to remove excess liquid from fabrics. In general, centrifuges are also used to separate materials of different densities.

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CERAMIC FIBER: An aluminum silicate fiber made by heating aluminum fluoride at 10001200°C with silica and water vapor. The crystals, or “whiskers,” obtained are up to 1 cm long and have high strength. Ceramic fibers are used in reinforced plastics. CHAFED END: A warp end that has been abraded during processing. It generally appears as a dull yarn often containing broken filaments. CHAFE MARK: See ABRASION MARK. CHAFER FABRIC: A fabric, coated with unvulcanized rubber, that is wrapped around the bead section of the tire before vulcanization of the complete tire. The purpose of the chafer fabric is to maintain an abrasion-resistant later of rubber in contact with the wheel on which the tire is mounted. CHAIN BINDERS: Yarns running in the warp direction on the back of a woven carpet which hold construction yarns together. CHAIN DYEING: See DYEING. CHALKINESS: 1. A dull, whitened appearance sometimes associated with certain extra-dull colors. 2. A fillingwise fabric defect observed as bands varying luster or sheen. CHALLIS: A very soft, lightweight, plain-weave fabric, usually printed with a delicate floral pattern. The name is derived from the Anglo-Indian term “shalee” meaning soft. CHAMBRAY: 1. A plain woven-spun fabric, almost square (i.e., 80 x 76), with a colored warp and a white filling. Lightweight chambrays are used for shirts, dresses, and children’s clothes. 2. A similar but heavier fabric of carded yam, used for work clothing. CHAMELEON: A variable multicolored effect achieved by using warp yarns of one color and two filling yarns of different colors in each shed. It is sometimes used in taffeta, faille, or poplin made from silk or manufactured filament yarns. CHANGE IN FILLING: See MIXED END or FILLING. CHANGE INLINGTH ON UNTWISTING: The increase or decrease in length measured when a specimen is untwisted. The change is expressed as the percentage extension or contraction of the nominal gauge length of the specimen, i.e., specimen length prior to untwisting. CHAR LENGTH: In flammability testing, the distance from the edge of the sample exposed to the flame to the upper edge of the charred or void area. CHEESE: A cylindrical package of yarn wound on a flangeless tube. CHEESECLOTH: A low-count, plain weave, soft cotton or cotton blend cloth also known as gauze. CHELATING AGENT: A compound that will inactivate a metallic ion by making it an integral part of an inner ring structure. The metal is attached by coordinate links to two or more nonmetal atoms in the same molecule.

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CHEMICAL CRIMPING: A crinkled or puckered effect in fabric obtained by printing sodium hydroxide onto the goods in a planned design. When the material is washed, the part to which the paste has been applied will shrink and cause untreated areas to pucker. The same effect is obtained with a caustic resist print and a sodium hydroxide bath. CHEMICAL FIBER: See MANUFACTURED FIBER. CHEMICAL FINISHING: Processes in which additives are applied to change the aesthetic and functional properties of a material. Examples are the application of antioxidants, flameretardant, wetting agents, and stain and water repellents. CHEMICAL STABILITY: Degree of resistance of a material to chemicals, such as acids, bases, solvents, oils, and oxidizing agents, and to chemical reactions, including those catalyzed by light. CHENILLE: 1. A yarn with a fuzzy pile protruding from all sides, cut from a woven chenille weft fabric. Chenille yarns are made from all fibers, and they are used as filling in fabrics and for embroidery, fringes, and tassels. 2. Fabric woven with chenille yarn. (Also see TUFTED FABRIC.) CHEVIOT: A rugged tweed made from uneven yarn, this fabric usually has a rather harsh hand. CHEVRON: A broad term applied to prints in zigzag stripes or to herringbone weaves. CHIFFON: A plain weave, lightweight, sheer, transparent fabric made from fine, highly twisted yarns. It is usually a square fabric, i.e., having approximately the same number of ends and picks and the same count in both warp and filling. CHINCHILLA CLOTH: A heavy, twill weave, filling-pile fabric with a napped surface that is rolled into little tufts or nubs. The material is frequently double faced with a knitted or woven, plain or fancy back. Chinchilla cloth is used primarily in coats. The term is also used to refer to a knitted woolen fabric having a napped surface. CHINO: A cotton or cotton blend twill used by armies throughout the world for summer-weight uniforms. Chino is frequently dyed khaki. CHINTZ: A glazed fabric produced by friction calendering. Unglazed chintz is called cretonne. CHIP: 1. The form of polymer feedstock used in fiber production. (Also see FLAKE.) 2. The feedstock for a pulp digestor. 3. A defect in a nonwoven fabric. CHLORINE RETENTION: A characteristic of several resins and textile finishes whereby they retain some of the chlorine from bleach. On heating of the goods, the chlorine forms hydrochloric acid, causing tendering of the cloth. This is especially true of certain wrinkle resistant finishes for cotton and rayon. CHOKED COILER: A condition in carding or drawing in which sliver is either puffy, badly condensed, or very uneven, leading to overloading of the coiler trumpets and causing work stoppage.

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CHOKED FLYERS: A situation in which roving will not pass through the flyer channels because of heavy or cockled conditions caused by such factors as uneven drafting, waste, overcut fibers, and improper finish. CHROMATICITY: The quality of color expressed as a function of wavelength and purity. CHROMATOGRAPHY: The generic name of a group of processes for separating and analyzing mixtures of chemical compounds. The separation depends on the redistribution of molecules of the mixture between phases, one of which is thin, often reaching molecular dimensions. For this reason, molecular size and shape are important in the separation, and extremely subtle separations are possible. CHUTE-FEED SYSTEM: Pneumatic fiber transport system used in linking textile processing equipment or operations, especially opening, blending, and carding. CIRCULAR-KNIT FABRIC: A tubular weft-knit fabric made of a circular-knitting machine. CIRCULAR KNITTING: See KNITTING. CIRÉ: A brilliant patent leather effect produced by application of wax, heat, and pressure. CLAMPS: The parts of a testing machine that are used to hold a specimen while it is subjected to force. (Also called jaws.) CLARITY: 1. In general, the optical property of being clear. 2. In acetate manufacture, a measure of the appearance of dope solutions, indicating the quality of the acetylation mixture. 3. In printing, the sharpness or definition of a print pattern. CLEARING: The treatment of printed fabrics with a chemical solution to improve the appearance of the whites. In many cases the treatment also brightens the printed areas. (Also see REDUCTION CLEARING.) CLIPMARK: Visible deformation of selvage due to pressure from a tenter clip. CLO: A unit of thermal resistance. The insulation needed to keep an individual producing heat at the rate of 58W/m2 comfortable of 21°C air temperature with air movement of 0.1 m/s. One clo is roughly equal to the insulation value of typical indoor clothing. CLOQUÉ FABRIC: From the French term for blistered, it refers to any fabric whose surface exhibits an irregularly raises blister effect. CLOTH: A generic term embracing all textile fabrics and felts. Cloth may be formed of any textile fiber, wire, or other material, and it includes any pliant fabric woven, knit, felted, needled, sewn, or otherwise formed. CLOUDY WEB: An uneven or irregular web from the doffer of a card. CLUMPS: In nonwoven fabrics, an irregularly shaped grouping of fibers caused by insufficient fiber separation.

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COACERVATION: The collection of colloidal particles into droplets held together by electrostatic attraction. This term for the equilibrium state of colloidal systems was introduced in 1929. COAGULATION: The precipitation of particles from a suspension in a liquid, usually resulting in formation of a gel. COAGULATION BATH: A liquid bath that serves to harden viscous polymer strands into solid fibers after extrusion through a spinneret. Used in wet spinning processes such as in rayon or acrylic fiber manufacture. COALESCED FILAMENTS: Filaments stuck together by design or accident during the extrusion process. COALESCENCE: Merging of two or more substances into a larger substance, i.e., coalesced filaments. COARSE END: See COARSE THREAD. COARSE FILLING: See COARSE THREAD. COARSE PICK: See COARSE THREAD. COARSE THREAD: A yarn larger in diameter than other yarns being used in the fabric. COATED FABRIC: A fabric to which a substance such as lacquer, plastic, resin, rubber, or varnish has been applied in firmly adhering layers to provide certain properties, such as water impermeability. COATING: The application of a semi-liquid material such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride, or polyurethane to one or both sides of a textile material. Once the coating has been dried (and cured, if necessary), it forms a bond with the fabric. Calender Coating: A type of roller coating that is actually a laminating operation. The coating is formed into a sheet, then joined with the fabric. Cast Coating: A method by which resinous materials such as vinyl are coated onto a fabric and cured by heated casting drums. Dip Coating: The process of passing a fabric through a solution of resin or elastomer, then through squeeze rolls to remove excess and leave a thin surface layer on the base fabric. In this process, both sides can be coated in one pass. (Also see DIP TREATING).

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Direct Coating: The simplest method of coating, this procedure involves spreading the coating with a knife. The moving fabric substrate is usually supported by a roller or a sleeve. The gap between the knife and the fabric determines coating thickness.

Roller Coating: In this method, a roller is used to apply the coating to the moving substrate fabric. Various roll configurations can be used.

Transfer Coating: This method involves applying the coating to a temporary substrate and then adding an adhesive coating (tie coat) to allow transfer by roller of the coating to the desired substrate.

COCKLED YARN: Spun yarn in which some fibers do not lie parallel to the other fibers but instead are curled and kinked, forming a rough and uneven surface on the yarn. The general cause is fiber overcut to the extent that the drafting rolls catch and hold both ends of the fiber at the same time while attempting to draft, resulting in slippage or breakage. (Also see OVERCUT.) COCKLING: A crimpiness or pucker in yarn or fabric usually caused by lack of uniform quality in the raw material used, improper tension on yarn in weaving, or weaving together yarns of different numbers.

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COHESION: The force that holds fibers together during yarn manufacturing or processing. It is usually a function of lubricant (type and amount) and fiber crimp. COILING: The depositing of sliver into cylindrical cans in helical loops. This arrangement permits easy removal for further processing. COIL YARN: See TEXTURED YARNS. COLOR ABRASION: Color changes in localized areas of a garment resulting from differential wear. COLORFASTNESS: Resistance to fading; i.e., the property of a dye to retain its color when the dyed (or printed) textile material is exposed to conditions or agents such as light, perspiration, atmospheric gases, or washing that can remove or destroy the color. A dye may be reasonably fast to one agent and only moderately fast to another. Degree of fastness of color is tested by standard procedures. Textile materials often must meet certain fastness specifications for a particular use. COLORIMETER: 1. A device that specifies color by measuring the intensities of the three primary colors that compose the color under study. 2. An instrument for measuring the concentration of a known substance in solution by comparing the liquid’s color with standard colors. COLORIMETRY: Any technique for evaluating a given color in terms of standard colors. COLOR STRIPPER: A chemical used to remove some or all of the dyestuffs from a fiber, yarn, or fabric so that a dyeing defect can be corrected, a shade lightened, or another color applied. COLOUR INDEX (CI): A listing of dyes and chemical structures published by the Society of Dyers and Colourists. Each structure is assigned a name according to chemical composition. Each dye is assigned a number according to its class and shade. A correlating structure number is given when available. COMBED SLIVER: A continuous band of untwisted fiber, relatively free of short fibers and trash, produced by combing card sliver. COMBED YARN: A yarn produced from combed sliver. (Also see COMBING.) COMBINATION FABRIC: A fabric containing: (1) different fibers in the warp and filling (e.g., a cotton warp and a rayon filling), (2) ends of two or more fibers in the warp and/or filling, (3) combination yarns, (4) both filament yarn and spun yarn of the same or different fibers, or (5) filament yarns of two or more generic fiber types. Combination fabrics may be either knit or woven. They should not be confused with blend fabrics. Although blend fabrics also contain more that one fiber, the same intimately blended spun yarn is present in both warp and filling. COMBINATION YARN: A piled yarn containing two or more yarns that vary in fiber composition, content, and/or twist level; or plied yarn composed of both filament yarn and spun yarn. COMBINED YARN: See COMBINATION YARN.

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COMBING: A step subsequent to carding in cotton and worsted system processing which straightens the fibers and extracts neps, foreign matter, and short fibers. Combing produces a stronger, more even, more compact, finer, smoother yarn. COMFORT: Performance parameter of apparel referring to wearability. Encompasses such properties as wicking, stretch, hand, etc. COMMERCIAL ALLOWANCE: The commercial moisture regain plus a specific allowance for finish used in calculating the commercial or legal weight of a fiber shipment. COMMERCIAL MOISTURE REGAIN: An arbitrary value adopted as the moisture regain to be used in calculating the commercial or legal weight of a fiber shipment. COMMERCIAL WEIGHT: 1. In natural fibers, the dry weight of fibers or yarns plus the commercial moisture regain. 2. In manufactured fibers, the dry weight of staple spun yarns or filament yarns after scouring by prescribed methods, plush the commercial moisture regain. COMMINGLED YARN: In aerospace textiles, two or more continuous multifilament yarns, the filaments of which have been intermixed with each other without adding twist or otherwise disturbing parallel relationship of the combined filaments. Usually consists of a reinforcing yarn, such as graphite or glass, and a thermoplastic matrix yarn. COMPACTED YARNS: Air-jet interlaced yarns. Since the entanglement serves only as a substitute for twist, the degree of interlace or tangle is not as great as in air-jet bulked yarns. COMPACTION: See INTERMINGLING. COMPACTOR: A machine developed by Fabric Research Laboratories which is used to compact fabrics or to produce warp-stretch fabrics by means of forced crimp and/or shrinkage of the warp yarn. COMPACT SPINNING PROCESS: A term generally referring to a spinning process carried out using any one of the several small spinning machines of compact design offered by equipment vendors as “packaged” units in which spinning and subsequent processing (drawing, crimping, cutting, etc.) are linked. COMPATIBLE SHRINKAGE: A term used for bonded fabrics to indicate that the face fabric and lining have similar shrinkage. This is necessary to avoid puckering. COMPLIANCE: The ability of a fiber to yield under stress; the ratio of the change in strain to the change in stress that produces it; the reciprocal of the textile modulus. COMPOSITE: 1. An article or substance of two or more constituents, generally, with reinforcing elements dispersed in a matrix or continuous phase. 2. Hard or soft constructions in which the fibers themselves are consolidated to form structures rather than being formed into yarns. Rigidity of these constructions is controlled by the density, the modulus of the load-bearing fibers, and the fraction of fusible fibers. Strength is controlled by adhesion and

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shear-yield strength of the matrix unless fibers are bonded in a load-transferring matrix. 3. A structure made by laminating a nonwoven fabric with another nonwoven, with other materials, or by impregnating a nonwoven fabric with resins. COMPOSITE FIBERS: Fibers composed of two or more polymer types in a sheath-core or side-by-side (bilateral) relation. COMPRESSIBILITY: Refers to the ease of reducing the bulk of fabric, carpet, batting, or other material. May be high or low, soft or hard. CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION: A polymerization process yielding a product in which the repeating unit has fewer atoms that the monomer or monomers. Generally, the separation of water or some other simple substance occurs as a result of the reaction, e.g., ethylene glycol in polyester production. CONDITIONING: A process of allowing textile materials (staple, tow, yarns, and fabrics) to reach hygroscopic equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere. Materials may be conditioned in a standard atmosphere (65%RH,70°F) for testing purposes or in arbitrary conditions existing in manufacturing or processing areas. CONE: A conical package of yarn, usually wound on a disposable paper core. CONING: The transfer of yarn from skeins or bobbins or other types of packages to cones. CONJUGATE FIBER: A two-component fiber with specific ability to crimp on hot or hot/wet treatment because of differential shrinkage. (Also see BILATERAL FIBERS.) CONJUGATE YARN: A yarn made from conjugate filaments. CONSOLIDATION: Application of heat and pressure to form composite structures. CONTACT ANGLE: The angle between the surface of a liquid and the surface of a partially submerged object or the container at the line of contact. The smaller the contact angle, the greater the wettability of the solid. CONTINUOUS FILAMENT: See FILAMENT. CONTINUOUS FILAMENT YARN: See FILAMENT YARN. CONTINUOUS POLYMERIZATION: In polymer manufacture, linkage of the various stages of polymerization so that materials flow without interruption from the addition of raw materials to delivery of the finished polymer from the system. Extrusion as film, chip or fiber may be linked to a continuous polymerization line. Because there is no break in the process while the transition from low molecular weight to high occurs, multiple stage reaction vessels may be required and accurate process control is critical.

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CONTRACTION: See TAKE-UP (TWIST) or TAKE-UP (YARN IN FABRIC). CONVERTED FABRIC: A finished fabric as distinguished from greige fabric. CONVERTER: An individual or organization which buys greige fabrics and sells them as a finished product to cutters, wholesalers, retailers, and others. The converter arranges for the finishing of the fabric, namely bleaching, mercerizing, dyeing, printing, etc., to the buyers’ specifications. CONVOLUTION: 1. An irregular spiral or twisted condition characteristic of mature cotton fiber. It is visible under a microscopic. The finer fibers are generally more twisted than the coarser fibers. 2. Coil and curl in certain types of textured yarns which provide bulkiness to the yarn. COP: 1. A headless tube upon which yarn or thread is wound. 2. Thread or yarn wound into the shape of a hollow cylinder with tapered ends. 3. Filling yarn wound upon a tapered tube (generally paper). COPOLYMER: A polymer composed of a combination of more that one monomer (usually two). Copolymers are the basis of some manufactured fibers. CORD: 1. The product formed by twisting together two or more plied yarns. 2. A rib on the surface of a fabric (e.g., corduroy and whipcord).

CORDED SELVAGE: See LOOPY SELVAGE. CORDUROY: A filling-pile fabric with ridges of pile (cords) running lengthwise parallel to the selvage. CORE-BULKED YARN: See TEXTURED YARNS. CORE SPINNING: The process of making a corespun yarn. It consists of feeding the core yarn (an elastomeric filament yarn, a regular filament yarn, a textured yarn, or a previously spun yarn) into the front delivery roll of the spinning frame and of covering the core yarn with a sheath of fibers during the spinning operation. CORE-SPUN YARN: A yarn made by twisting fibers around a filament or a previously spun yarn, thus concealing the core.

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Core yarns are used in sewing thread, blankets, and socks and also to obtain novelty effects in fabrics. CORKSCREW TWIST: A place in yarn or cord where uneven twist gives a corkscrew-like appearance. CORRUGATION MARK: A fabric defect consisting of a crimped, rippled, wavy, pebbled, or cockled area in the fabric spoiling the uniformity of the texture. COT: The covering material used on various fiber-processing rolls, especially drawing rolls. Leather, cork, rubber, and synthetic materials are frequently employed. COTTAGE STEAMER: A chamber used for batch steaming of printed or dyed textiles. Cloth is looped on “poles” on a special cart which fits into the steamer for processing. COTTON COUNT: The yarn numbering system based on length and weight originally used for cotton yarns and now employed for most staple yarns spun on the cotton, or short-staple, system. It is based on a unit length of 840 yards, and the count of the yarn is equal to the number of 840yard skeins required to weigh 1 pound. Under this system, the higher the number, the finer the yarn. (Also see YARN NUMBER.) COTTON FIBER: A unicellular, natural fiber composed of almost pure cellulose. As taken from plants, the fiber is found in lengths of 3/8 to 2 inches. For marketing, the fibers are graded and classed for length, strength, and color. COTTON LINTERS: See LINTERS. COTTON SYSTEM: A process originally used for manufacturing cotton fiber into yarn, and now also used extensively for producing spun yarns of manufactured fibers, including blends. Processing on the cotton system includes the general operations of opening, picking, carding, drawing, roving, and ring or mule spinning in the production of carded yarns. For combed yarns, three steps, culminating in combing, are included after the carding operation. There have been many modifications of this process, especially in recent years for the so-called “long draft,” or “Casablancas,” system. The cotton system is also proving to be the basis of many hybrid systems for handling wool yarns and for manufacturing other long-staple yarns.. COUNT: 1. A numerical designation of yarn size indicating the relationship of length to weight. (Also see YARN NUMBER.) 2. The number of warp yarns (ends) and filling yarns (picks) per inch in a woven fabric, or the number of wales and courses per inch in a knit fabric. For example, a fabric count of 68 x 52 indicates 68 ends per inch in the warp and 52 picks per inch in the filling. COURSE: The row of loops or stitches running across a knit fabric, corresponding to the filling in woven fabrics. COVER: 1. The degree of evenness of thread spacing. 2. The degree to which underlying structure is concealed by the surface material, as in carpets, the degree to which pile covers backing. 3. The ability of a dye to conceal defects in fabric. COVER FACTOR: The fraction of the surface area that is covered by yarns assuming round yarn shape.

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COVERSTOCK: A lightweight nonwoven material used to contain and conceal an underlying core material. Examples are the facing materials that cover the absorbent cores of diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products. COVERT: A mediumweight to heavyweight wool or wool blend cloth woven with a steep twill from two or more shades of yarn-dyed fibers to produce a mottled or melange effect. COWOVEN FABRIC: In aerospace textiles, a fabric in which a reinforcing fiber and a matrix fiber are adjacent to each other as one end in the warp and/or filling direction. CRAB: A hand device used to stretch carpets in a small area. CRABBING: The process of heating wool or hair fabrics, under tension, in a hot or boiling liquid, then cooling under tension, to provide the fabric with dimensional stability for further wet processing. CRACK: A defect in a woven fabric consisting of an open fillingwise streak extending partly or entirely across the fabric. CRACK MARK: A sharp break or crease in the surface of a coated or laminated fabric. CRASH: A course fabric with a rough, irregular surface made from thick, uneven yarns. CREASE: A break or line in a fabric generally caused by a sharp fold. Creases may be either desirable or undesirable, depending upon the situation. A crease may be intentionally pressed into a fabric by application of pressure and heat and sometimes moisture. CREASE RECOVERY: See WRINKLE RECOVERY. CREASE-RESISTANT: A term used to describe a fabric treated chemically to improve its resistance to and recovery from wrinkling. CREASE RETENTION: The ability of a fabric to maintain an inserted crease. Crease retention can be measured subjectively or by the relation of a crease in a subsequent state to the crease in the initial state. Crease retention may be strongly dependent on the conditions of use, e.g., normal wear, washing or tumble-drying. CREEL: 1. A framework arranged to hold slivers, rovings, or yarns so that many ends can be withdrawn smoothly and evenly without tangling. 2. A similar device used to aggregate sub-tows to tows in manufactured staple processing, especially polyester. CREELING: The mounting of supply packages in a creel to feed fiber to a process, i.e., beaming or warping. CREEP: See DELAYED DEFORMATION. CRENULAR CROSS SECTION: See CROSS SECTION.

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CREPE: A lightweight fabric characterized by a crinkling surface obtained by the use of: (1) hard-twist filling yarns, (2) chemical treatment, (3) crepe weaves, and (4) embossing. CRETONNE: See CHINTZ. CRIMP: 1. The waviness of a fiber expressed as crimps per unit length. 2. The difference in distance between two points on an unstretched fiber and the same two points when the fiber is straightened under specified tension. Crimp is expressed as a percentage of the unstretched length. 3. The difference in distance between two points on a yarn as it lies in a fabric and the same two points when the yarn has been removed from the fabric and straightened under specified tension, expressed as a percentage of the distance between the two points as the yarn lies in the fabric. CRIMP AMPLITUDE: The height of displacement of the fiber from its uncrimped condition. CRIMP DEREGISTERING: The process of opening a tow band by causing the peaks and valleys of the crimp to lay randomly rather that uniformly. CRIMPED YARN: See TEXTURED YARNS, 4. CRIMP ENERGY: The amount of work required to uncrimp a fiber. CRIMP FREQUENCY: The crimp level, or number of crimps per inch in yarn or tow. CRIMPING: The process of imparting crimp to tow or filament yarn. CRIMP SETTING: An aftertreatment to set the crimp in yarn or fiber. Usually heat and steam are used, although the treatment may be chemical in nature. CRINKLE: 1. A wrinkled or puckered effect in fabric. It may be obtained either in the construction or in the finishing of the fabric. 2. The term is sometimes incorrectly used to describe the crimp of staple fiber. CRINDLE YARN: See TEXTURED YARNS. CRINOLINE: A stiff, heavily sized fabric used as an interlining or to support areas such as the edge of a hem. CRITICAL LENGTH: See BREAKING LENGTH. CROCHETING: The interlocking of loops from a single thread with a hooked needle. Crocheting can be done either by hand or by machine. CROCKING: The rubbing-off of dye from a fabric as a result of 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. CROOKED CLOTH: See BAGGY CLOTH.

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CROSS DIRECTION: The width dimension, within the plane of the fabric, that is perpendicular to the direction in which the fabric is being produced by the machine. CROSS DYEING: See DYEING. CROSS-FLOW QUENCH: In cooling extruded polymer filaments, refers to cooling air directed from one side cross the path of the filaments. There may be some type of suction on the opposite side to remove the heated air. CROSS-LINKING: The stabilization of cellulosic or manufactured fibers through chemical reaction with certain compounds in such a way that the cellulose or manufactured polymer chains are bridged across or “crosslinked.” Cross-linking improves such mechanical factors as wrinkle resistance. Random cross-linking in manufactured polymers is undesirable and leads to brittleness and loss of tensile strength. CROSS-SECTION: The shape of an individual filament when cut at right angles to its axis. Normal shapes for manufactured fibers vary, e.g., round (nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and some acrylics), serrated or crenular (viscose rayon, acetate, and triacetate), bean-shaped (some acrylics and modacrylics). The shaped of manufactured fibers can be modified by changing the shape of the holes in the spinneret. Cross-sectional variants are produced intentionally in wide variety of shapes for different physical effects such as change in luster or hand, improved resistance to soiling, etc. Examples are trilobal (T and Y) and other multilobal shapes (cruciform, K, X, pentalobal, star, etc.), I-beam, ribbon, square, triangular, elliptical, hollow, and many others. CROSS-STITCH: See PINHOLE. CROWSFEET: A fabric defect consisting of breaks or wrinkles of varying degrees of intensity and size, resembling bird’s footprints in shape, and occurring during wet processing of fabrics. CRYSTALLINE: Made up of crystals. The term crystalline applies to sections of all chemical fibers, which consists of alternate crystalline and amorphous (noncrystalline) regions. These regions are influenced by manufacturing conditions and to some extent can be controlled. The degree of crystallinity influences the physical properties of fibers. CRYSTALLINE GROWTH: 1. The expansion and development of a crystal. The process involves diffusion of the crystallizing material to special sites on the surface of the crystal, incorporation of the molecules into the surface at these sites, and diffusion of heat away from the surface of the crystal. 2. The transformation of disoriented molecules, usually of the same substance, to a higher state of order. This process generally occurs rapidly for small molecules; however, the process is slow for polymer molecules and is arrested at temperatures below the glass transition temperature. CRYSTALLINITY: 1. The state of quality of being crystalline. 2. The extent to which a polymer exists in a lattice structure. CRYSTALLIZATION: The formation of highly-ordered substances (crystals) from solutions or melts. In polymers, crystalline areas are interspersed with amorphous areas in a lattice-like network. (Also see MACROLATTICE.)

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CUPIONI: A type of specialty or novelty yarn having slubs or enlarged sections of varying length. CUPRAMMONIUM RAYON: Filaments produced by precipitating cellulose dissolved in a solution of copper oxide in ammonia. (Also see RAYON FIBER.) CURING: 1. In finishing fabrics, the process by which resins or plastics are set in or on textile materials, usually by heating. 2. In rubber processing, vulcanization. It is accomplished either by heat treatment or by treatment in cold sulfuryl chloride solution. CURL: See KINK. CUSHION-BACK CARPET: A carpet with padding made as an integral part of the backing. CUT: 1. A unit of yarn number. The number of 100-yard lengths per pound avoirdupois of asbestos yarn or glass yarn, or the number of 300-yards lengths per pound avoirdupois of woolen yarn. 2. A length of woven cloth. 3. The number of needles per inch on a circular-knitting machine. A machine with 34 needles per inch is a 34-cut machine, and a fabric produced thereon is called a 34-cut fabric. CUT PILE: A pile surface obtained by cutting the loops of yarn in a tufted or woven carpet. CUT SELVAGE: A cut or break occurring only in the selvage. A cut selvage is caused by incorrect loom adjustment during weaving or improper edge construction. The term also refers to loose edges cut during shearing of the fabric. CUT STAPLE: 1. An inferior cotton fiber that was accidentally cut because it was too damp during ginning. 2. A term sometimes used to denote staple of manufactured fibers. CUT TAPE: See SLIT TAPE. CUTTER: 1. A mechanical device used to cut tow into staple. 2. A firm engaged in making up garments from finished fabrics. 3. A person employed in the wholesale garment industry whose specific work is to cut layers of fabric to be formed into garments. CUT VELVET: See BEADED VELVET. CUT YARN: A defective yarn, i.e., cut partially or completely through, resulting from malprocessing. CYCLIC STRESS-STRAIN: Repeated loading of a yarn on a tensile testing machine and the determination of the physical properties of the yarn during these cycles. CYCLIC TRIMER: Strictly, a polymer, in cyclic form, that contains three repeating groups. Cyclic trimer is a by-product found in all commercial polyester and results in deposit buildup in package-dyeing equipment.

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CYLINDER: 1. In carding, a large cast iron shell, with an outer diameter of 40 to 45 inches, completely covered with card clothing on the surface. The shell is mounted rigidly on a shaft which projects at each end to rest in bearings. The cylinder must be accurately balanced since it rotates at speeds of 160 revolutions per minute and higher. 2. The main roll, or pressure bowl, on roller printing machines. The engraved rolls that apply color are arranged around the cylinder. (Also see PRINTING, Roller Printing.) 3. A slotted cylindrical housing for the needles in a circular-knitting machine. The number of slots per inch in the cylinder determines the cut of the machine. 4. See DRYING CYLINDERS. CYLINDER LOADING: Fibers imbedded so deeply in the wire clothing on a card cylinder that they resist transfer to the doffer cylinder according to the normal fiber path through the card. Causes include improper finish, excess moisture, or static on the fiber. The fiber builds up to such an extent that the carding operation is adversely affected. In extreme cases, the card will be slowed or stopped. CYMATIC PRINTING: This proprietary process owned by KBC is a method in which the oscillations of a musical chord are “caught” on a quartz plate and the vibration patterns photographed. The patterns thus obtained are used in making unique print fabrics of unusual variety and originality.

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D
DAMAGED SELVAGE: See CUT SELVAGE. DAMASK: A firm, glossy, Jacquard-patterned fabric that may be made from linen, cotton, rayon, silk, or a combination of these with various manufactured fibers. Similar to brocade, but flatter and reversible, damask is used for napkins, tablecloths, draperies, and upholstery. DAMPENING (IN TIRE CORD): The relative ability to absorb energy and deaden oscillation after excitation. DECATING: See DECATIZING. DECATING MARK: A crease mark or impression extending fillingwise across the fabric near the beginning or end of the piece. DECATIZING: A finishing process in which fabric, wound tightly on a perforated roller, either has hot water circulated through it (wet decatizing), or has steam blown through it (dry decatizing). The process is aimed chiefly at improving the hand and removing wrinkles. DECITEX: One tenth of a tex. DECORTICATING: A mechanical process for separating the woody matter from the bast fiber of such plants as ramie and hemp. DEEP-DYEING VARIANTS: Polymers that have been chemically modified to increase their dyeability. Fibers and fabrics made therefrom can be dyed to very heavy depth. DEFECTS: A general term that refers to some flaw in a textile product that detracts from either performance or appearance properties. DEFORMATION: A change in the shape of a specimen, e.g., an increase in length produced as the result of the application of a tensile load or force. Deformation may be immediate or delayed, and the latter may be recoverable or nonrecoverable. DEGRADATION: The loss of desirable physical properties by a textile material as a result of some process or physical/chemical phenomenon. DEGREE OF ESTERIFICATION: The extent to which the acid groups of terephthalic and/or other acids have reacted with diols to form ester groups in polyester polymer production. DEGREE OF POLYMERIZATION: Refers to the number of monomer units in an average polymer. It can be controlled during processing and affects the properties of the end product. DEGUMMING: The removal of gum from silk by boiling in a mildly alkaline solution. Usually accomplished on the knit or woven fabric.

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DELAYED DEFORMATION: Deformation that is time-dependent and is exhibited by material subjected to a continuing load; creep. Delayed deformation may be recoverable following removal of the applied load. DELUSTERING: Subduing or dulling the natural luster of a textile material by chemical or physical means. The term often refers to the use of titanium dioxide or other white pigments as delustrants in textile materials. DELUSTRANT: A substance that can be used to dull the luster of a manufactured fiber. Often a pigment such as titanium dioxide. DENIER: A weight-per-unit-length measure of any linear material. Officially, it is the number of unit weights of 0.05 grams per 450-meter length. This is numerically equal to the weight in grams of 9,000 meters of the material. Denier is a direct numbering system in which the lower numbers represent the finer sizes and the higher numbers the coarser sizes. In the U.S., the denier system is used for numbering filament yarns (except glass), manufactured fiber staple (but not spun yarns), and tow. In most countries outside the U.S., the denier system has been replaced by the tex system. The following denier terms are in use: Denier per Filament (dpf): The denier of an individual continuous filament or an individual staple fiber if it were continuous. In filament yarns, it is the yarn denier divided by the number of filaments. Yard Denier: The denier of a filament yarn. It is the product of the denier per filament and the number of filaments in the yarn. Total Denier: The denier of a tow before it is crimped. It is the product of the denier per filament and the number of filaments in the tow. The total denier after crimping (called crimped total denier) is higher because of the resultant increase in weight per unit length. DENIER VARIATION: Usually variation in diameter, or other cross-sectional dimension, along the length of a filament or bundle of filaments. It is caused by malfunction or lack of process control in fiber manufacturing and degrades resulting fabric appearance or performance. DENIM: A firm 2 x 1 or 3 x 1 twill-weave fabric, often having a whitish tinge, obtained by using white filling yarns with colored warp yarns. Heavier weight denims, usually blue or brown, are used for dungarees, work clothes, and men’s and women’s sportswear. Lighter weight denims with softer finish are made in a variety of colors and patterns and are used for sportswear and draperies. DENSITY: The mass per unit volume (usually expressed as grams per cubic centimeter). (Also see SPECIFIC GRAVITY.) DENT: On a loom, the space between the wires of a reed. DEREGISTERING (CRIMP): Process of disordering or disaligning the crimp in a tow band to produce bulk. (Also see THREADED-ROLL PROCESS.) DESULFURIZING: An aftertreatment to remove sulfur from newly spun viscose rayon by passing the yarn through a sodium sulfide solution.

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DETERGENT: A synthetic cleaning agent containing surfactants that do not precipitate in hard water and have the ability to emulsify oil and suspend dirt. DEVELOPED DYES: See DYES. DEVELOPING: A stage in dyeing or printing in which leuco compounds, dyes, or dye intermediates are converted to the final, stable state or shade. DEWPOINT: The temperature at which a gas begins to condense as a liquid at a given pressure. Thus in air, it is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated when cooled with no further addition of moisture or change in pressure. DIAGONAL (45°) FLAME TEST: See FLAMMABILITY TEST. ° DIAL: In a circular-knitting machine, a circular steel plate with radially arranged slots for needles. A knitting machine equipped with both a dial and a cylinder (q.v.) can produce double-knit fabrics. DIAMINE: A compound with two amino groups. Hexamethylenediamine, one of the intermediates in the manufacture of nylon 66 salt, is an example of this chemical type. DIELECTRIC BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE: In an electrical insulating material, the voltage at which electrical breakdown occurs, i.e., the voltage at which current will flow and/or the material melts. DIELECTRIC CONSTANT: Measure of the ability of a dielectric material to store electrical potential energy under the influence of an electric field, measured by the ratio of the capacitance of a condenser with the material as the dielectric to its capacitance with a vacuum as the dielectric. DIELECTRIC STRENGTH: The average voltage gradient at which electrical failure or breakdown occurs. Expressed in volts per mil. DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS: A method of determining the temperature at which thermal events occur in a material undergoing continuous heating. DIFFUSION: 1. A more or less gradual movement of molecules or ions through a solution or fiber as a result of the existence of a concentration gradient or repulsive or attractive forces. 2. The random movement of gas molecules. DIMENSIONAL RESTORABILITY: The ability of a fabric to be returned to its original dimensions after laundering or dry cleaning, expressed in percent. For example, 2% dimensional restorability means that although a fabric may shrink more than this in washing, it can be restored to within 2% of its original dimensions by ordinary home pressing methods. DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: The ability of textile material to maintain or return to its original geometric configuration.

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DIMETHYL TEREPHTHALATE: [p-C6H4(COOCH3)2] An intermediate used in the production of polyethylene terephthalate, the polymer from which polyester fibers and resins are made. DIMITY: A sheer, thin, spun cloth that sometimes has cords or stripes woven in. It is used for aprons, pinafores, and many types of dress goods. DIP: 1. Immersion of a textile material in some processing liquid. The term is usually used in connection with a padding or slashing process. 2. The rubber compound with which tire cords and other in-rubber textiles are treated to give improved adhesion to rubber. DIP DYEING: See DYEING. DIP PENETRATION: The degree of saturation through a tire cord after impregnation with an adhesive. DIP PICKUP: The amount of adhesive applied to a tire cord by dipping, expressed as a percentage of the weight of the cord before dipping. DIP TREATING: The process of passing fiber, cord, or fabric through an adhesive bath, followed by drying and heat-treating of the adhesive-coated fiber to obtain better adhesion. DIRECT DYES: See DYES. DIRECT ESTERIFICATION: In the production of polyethylene terephthalate, the process in which ethylene glycol is reacted with terephthalic acid to form bis-β-hydroxyethyl terephthalate monomer with the generation of water as a by-product. DIRECTIONALLY ORIENTED FABRICS: Rigid fabric constructions containing inlaid warp or fill yarns held in place by a warp-knit structure. Used in geotextiles, coated fabrics, composites, etc. DIRECTION OF TWIST: See TWIST, DIRECTION OF. DIRECT PRINTING: See PRINTING. DISCHARGE PRINTING: See PRINTING. DISCOLORED PICK: See MIXED END or FILLING. DISC TEST: An in-rubber test used to predict the fatigue resistance of tire cords and other industrial yarns. DISPERSANT: A dispersing agent, often of a surface active chemical, that promotes formation of a dispersion or maintains a state of dispersion by preventing settling or aggregation. DISPERSE DYES: See DYES. DISPERSION: 1. A system consisting of finely divided particles and the medium in which they are distributed. 2. Separation of light into colors by diffraction or refraction. 3. A qualitative

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estimation of the separation and uniform distribution of fibers in the liquid during the production of a wet-formed nonwoven fabric. DISTRIBUTION LENGTH: In fibers, a graphic or tabular presentation of the proportion or percentage (by number or by weight) of fibers having different lengths. DIVIDED THREADLINE EXTRUSION: Spinning of two separate threadlines from one spinneret. DOBBY: 1. A mechanical attachment on a loom. A dobby controls the harnesses to permit the weaving of geometric figures. 2. A loom equipped with a dobby. 3. A fabric woven on a dobby loom. DOCTOR BLADE: A metal knife that cleans or scrapes the excess dye from engraved printing rollers, leaving dye paste only in the valleys of engraved areas. Also used to describe other blades that are used to apply materials evenly to rollers or fabrics. DOCTOR STREAK: A defect in printed fabrics consisting of a wavy white or colored streak in the warp direction. It is caused by a damaged or improperly set doctor blade on the printing machine. DOESKIN FINISH: A soft low nap that is brushed in one direction. Cloth with this type of finish is used on billiard tables and in men’s wear. DOFF: A set of full bobbins produced by one machine (a roving frame, a spinning frame, or a manufactured filament-yarn extrusion machine). DOFFER: 1. The last or delivery cylinder of the card from which the sheet of fibers is removed by the doffer comb. 2. An operator who removes full bobbins, spools, containers, or other packages from a machine and replaces them with empty ones. DOFFER COMB: A reciprocating comb, the teeth of which oscillate close to the card clothing of the doffer to strip the web of fibers from the card. DOFFER LOADING: Fibers imbedded so deeply into the doffer wire clothing that the doffer comb cannot dislodge them to form a traveling web. DOFFING: The operation of removing full packages, bobbins, spools, roving cans, caps, etc., from a machine and replacing them with empty ones. DONEGAL: A tweed fabric with colorful slubs woven in, donegal is used for suits and coats. DOPE: See SPINNING SOLUTION. DOPE-DYED: See DYEING, Mass-Colored. DOTTED SWISS: A sheer cotton or cotton blend fabric with small dot motif, dotted swiss is used for dress goods, curtains, baby clothes, etc.

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DOUBLE BACK: A secondary backing glued to the back of carpet, usually to increase dimensional stability. DOUBLE-CLOTH CONSTRUCTION: Two fabrics are woven in the loom at the same time, one fabric on top of the other, with binder threads holding the two fabrics together. The weave on the two fabrics can be different. DOUBLE END: Two ends woven as one in a fabric. A double end may be intentional for fabric styling, or accidental, in which case a fabric defect results. DOUBLE-KNIT FABRIC: A fabric produced on a circular-knitting machine equipped with two sets of latch needles situated at right angles to each other (dial and cylinder). DOUBLE PICK: See MISPICK. DOUBLE SELVAGE: See ROLLED SELVAGE. DOUBLE WEAVE: A fabric woven with two systems of warp or filling threads so combined that only one is visible on either side. Cutting the yarns that hold the two cloths together yields two separate cutpile fabrics.

DOUBLING: 1. A process for combining several strands of sliver, roving, or yarn in yarn manufacturing. 2. The process of twisting together two or more singles or plied yarns, i.e., plying. 3. A British term for twisting. 4. The term doubling is sometimes used in a sense opposite to singling. This is unintentional plying. 5. A yarn, considerably heavier that normal, produced by a broken end becoming attached to and twisting into another end. DOUPPIONI: A rough or irregular yarn made of silk reeled from double or triple cocoons. Fabrics of douppioni have an irregular appearance with long, thin slubs. Douppioni-like yarns are now being spun from polyester and/or rayon staple. DOWNDRAFT METIER: A dry-spinning machine in which the airflow within the drying cabinet is in the same direction as the yarn path (downward). DOWNGRADE: In quality control, the lowering of the grade and/or value of a product due to the presence of defects. DOWNTWISTER: A cap, ring, or flyer twisting frame.

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DOWNTWISTING: A process for inserting twist into yarn in which the yarn passes downward from the supply package (a bobbin, cheese, or cone) to the revolving spindle. The package or packages of yarn to be twisted are positioned on the creel, and the ends of yarn are led downward through individual guides and stop motions to the positively driven feed roll and from there to the revolving take-up package or bobbin, which inserts twist. DOWTHERM®: Trademark of Dow Chemical Company for a series of heat transfer media. Dowtherm jackets are used around molten polymer processing lines. DRAFT: In weaving, a pattern or plan for drawing-in. DRAFTING: See DRAWING, 1. DRAFT RATIO: The ratio between the weight or length of fiber fed into various machines and that delivered from the machines in spun yarn manufacture. It represents the reduction in bulk and weight of stock, one of the most important principles in the production of yarn from staple fibers. DRAGGED-IN FILLING: See PULLED-IN FILLING. DRAINAGE FABRICS: See GEOTEXTILES. DRAPE: A term to describe the way a fabric falls while it hangs; the suppleness and ability of a fabric to form graceful configurations. DRAW-BACK: A crossed end; an end broken during warping that when repaired was not free or was tied in with an adjacent end or ends overlapping the broken end. The end draws or pulls back when unwound on the slasher. (Also see STICKER, 1.) DRAW-CRIMPING: See DRAW-TEXTURING. DRAW DOWN: The amount by which manufactured filaments are stretched following extrusion. (Also see DRAWING, 2.) DRAW-FRAME BLENDS: Blends of fibers made at the draw frame by feeding in ends of appropriate card sliver. This method is used when blend uniformity is not a critical factor. DRAWING: 1. The process of attenuating or increasing the length per unit weight of laps, slivers, slubbings, or rovings. 2. The hot or cold stretching of continuous filament yarn or tow to align and arrange the crystalline structure of the molecules to achieve improved tensile properties. DRAWING-IN: In weaving, the process of threading warp ends through the eyes of the heddles and the dents of the reed.

Drawing Sliver

DRAWN TOW: A zero-twist bundle of continuous filaments that has been stretched to achieve molecular orientation. (Tows for staple and spun yarn application are usually crimped.)

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DRAW RATIO: The ratio of final to original length per unit weight of yarn, laps, slivers, slubbings, rovings, etc., resulting from drawing. (Also see DRAFT RATIO and DRAW DOWN.) DRAW-SIZING: A system linking drawwarping and sizing in a continuous process. A typical system includes the following elements: (1) creel, (2) eyelet board, (3) warp-draw machine, (4) intermingler, (5) tension compensator and break monitor, (6) sizing bath, (7) dryers, (8) waxing and winding units. DRAW-TEXTURING: In the manufacture of thermoplastic fibers, the simultaneous process of drawing to increase molecular orientation and imparting crimp to increase bulk. DRAW-TWISTING: The operation of stretching continuous filament yarn to align and order the molecular and crystalline structure in which the yarn is taken up by means of a ring-and-traveler device that inserts a small amount of twist (usually ¼ to ½ turn per inch) into the drawn yarn. DRAW-WARPING: A process in which a number of threadlines, usually 800 to 2000 ends of POY feedstock, are oriented under essentially equal mechanical and thermal conditions by a stretching stage using variable speed rolls, then directly wound onto the beam. This process gives uniform end-to-end properties. DRAW-WINDING: The operation of stretching continuous filament yarn to align or order molecular and crystalline structure. The drawn yarn is taken up on a parallel tub or cheese, resulting in a zero-twist yarn. DRILL: A strong denim-like material with a diagonal 2 x 1 weave running toward the left selvage. Drill is often called khaki when it is dyed that color. DROPPED STITCHES: A defect in knit cloth characterized by recurrent cuts in one or more wales of a length of cloth. DROP STITCH: 1. An open design made in knitting by removing some of the needles at set intervals. 2. A defect in knit fabric. DROP WIRES: A stop-motion device utilizing metal wires suspended from warp or creeled yarns. When a yarn breaks, the wire drops, activation the switch that stops the machine. DRY CLEANING: Removing dirt and stains from fabrics or garments by processing in organic solvents (chlorinated hydrocarbons or mineral spirits). DRY FILLING: The application of finishing chemicals to dry fabric, usually by padding. DRY FORMING: The production of fiber webs by methods that do not use water or other liquids, i.e., air-laying or carding.

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DRYING CYLINDERS: Any of a number of heated revolving cylinders for drying fabric or yarn. They are arranged either vertically or horizontally in sets, with the number varying according to the material to be dried. They are often internally heated with steam and Tefloncoated to prevent sticking. DRY-LAID NONWOVENS: Nonwoven web made from dry fiber. Usually refers to fabrics from carded webs versus air-laid nonwovens which are formed from random webs. DRY SPINNING: See SPINNING. DUCK: A compact, firm, heavy, plain weave fabric with a weigh of 6 to 50 ounces per square yard. Plied yarn duck has plied yarn in both warp and filling. Flat duck has a warp of two single yarns woven as one and a filling of either single or plied yarn. DUCK EYE: See SPINNING. DULL: A term applied to manufactured fibers that have been chemically or physically modified to reduce their normal luster. Matte; opposite of bright; low in luster. DUMBELLS: A defect frequently seen in wet-formed nonwoven fabrics; an unusually long fiber will become entangled with groups of regular-length fibers at each end, thus producing a dumbbell-shaped clump. DUNGAREE: A term describing a coarse denim-type fabric, usually dyed blue, that is used for work overalls. DUPLEX PRINTING: See PRINTING. DURABILITY: A relative term for the resistance of a material to loss of physical properties or appearance as a result of wear or dynamic operation. DURABLE PRESS: A term describing a garment that has been treated so that it retains its smooth appearance, shape, and creases or pleats in laundering. In such garments no ironing is required, particularly if the garment is tumble-dried. Durable press finishing is accomplished by several methods; two of the most common are the following: (1) A fabric that contains a thermoplastic fiber and cotton or rayon may be treated with a special resin that, when cured, imparts the permanent shape to the cotton or rayon component of the fabric. The resin-treated fabric may be precured (cured in finishing and subsequently pressed in garment form at a higher temperature to achieve the permanent shape) or postcured (not cured until the finished garment has been sewn and pressed into shape). In both cases, the thermoplastic fiber in the garment is set in the final heat treatment. This fiber, when heat-set, also contributes to the permanence of the garment shape, but the thermoplastic component of the blend is needed for strength since the cotton or rayon component is somewhat degraded by the durable-press treatment. (2) Garments of a fabric containing a sufficient amount of a thermoplastic fiber, such as polyester, nylon, or acrylic, may be pressed with sufficient pressure and time to achieve a permanent garment shape. (Also see EASE-OF-CARE, PERMANENT FINISH, and WASH-AND-WEAR.). DUST-RESISTANT: A term applied to a fabric that has been tightly woven so that it resists dust penetration.

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DWELL TIME: The time during a process in which a particular substance remains in one location (e.g., the time during which molten polymer remains in a spinning pack.) DYE FLECK: 1. An imperfection in fabric caused by residual undissolved dye. 2. A defect caused by small sections of undrawn thermoplastic yarn that dye deeper that the drawn yarn. DYEING: A process of coloring fibers, yarns, or fabrics with either natural or synthetic dyes. Some of the major dyeing processes are described below: Batik: A resist-dyeing process in which portions of a fabric are coated with wax; during the dyeing process, only the uncovered areas take up dye. The process can be repeated so that several colors are used. Batik dyeing is often imitated in machine printing. Chain Dyeing: A method of dyeing yarns and fabrics of low tensile strength of tying them endto-end and running them through the dyebath in a continuous process. Cross Dyeing: A method of dyeing blend or combination fabrics to two or more shades by the use of dyes with different affinities for the different fibers. High-Temperature Dyeing: A dyeing operation in which the aqueous dyebaths are maintained at temperatures greater than 100°C by use of pressurized equipment. Used for many manufactured fibers. Ingrain: Term used to describe yarn or stock that is dyed in two or more shades prior to knitting or weaving to create blended color effects in fabrics. Jet Dyeing: High temperature piece dyeing in which the dye liquor is circulated via a Venturi jet thus providing the driving force to move the loop of fabric. Mass-Colored: A term to describe a manufactured fiber (yarn, staple, or tow) that has been colored by the introduction of pigments or insoluble dyes into the polymer melt or spinning solution prior to extrusion. Usually, the colors are fast to most destructive agents. Muff Dyeing: A form of yarn dyeing in which the cone has been removed. Package Dyeing: See DYEING, Yarn Dyeing. Pad Dyeing: A form of dyeing whereby a dye solution is applied by means of a padder or mangle. Piece Dyeing: The dyeing of fabrics “in the piece,” i.e., in fabric form after weaving or knitting as opposed to dyeing in the form of yarn or stock. Pressure Dyeing: Dyeing by means of forced circulation of dye through packages of fiber, yarn, or fabric under superatmospheric pressure. Printing: See PRINTING. Reserve Dyeing: 1. A method of dyeing in which one component of a blend or combination fabric is left undyed. The objective is accomplished by the use of dyes that have affinity for the

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fiber to be colored but not for the fiber to be reserved. 2. A method of treating yarn or fabric so that in the subsequent dyeing operation the treated portion will not be dyed. Short-Liquor Dyeing: A term used to describe any yarn or piece dyeing in which the liquor ration has been significantly reduced. The technique was designed to save water and energy. Skein Dyeing: The dyeing of yarn in the form of skeins, or hanks. Solution Dyeing: See DYEING, Mass-Colored. Solvent Dyeing: A dyeing method based on solubility of a dye in some liquid other than water, although water may be present in the dyebath. Space Dyeing: A yarn-dyeing process in which each strand is dyed with more that one color at irregular intervals. Space dyeing produces an effect of unorganized design in subsequent fabric form. The two primary methods are knit-de-knit and warp printing.

Spun-Dyed: Colored.

See

DYEING,

Mass-

Stock Dyeing: The dyeing of fibers in staple form. Thermal Fixation: A process for dyeing polyester whereby the color is diffused into the fiber by means of dry heat. Union Dyeing: A method of dyeing a fabric containing two or more fibers or yarns to the same shade so as to achieve the appearance of a solid colored fabric. Yarn Dyeing: The dyeing of yarn before the fabric is woven or knit. Yarn can be dyed in the form of skeins, muff, packages, cheeses, cakes, chain-wraps, and beams. DYEING AUXILLARIES: Various substances that can be added to the dyebath to aid dyeing. They may necessary to transfer the dye from the bath to the fiber or they may provide improvements in leveling, penetration, etc. Also call dyeing assistants. DYE MIGRATION: See MIGRATION, 1.

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DYE RANGE: A broad term referring to the collection of dye and chemical baths, drying equipment, etc., in a continuous-dyeing line. DYES: Substances that add color to textiles. They are incorporated into the fiber by chemical reaction, absorption, or dispersion. Dyes differ in their resistance to sunlight, perspiration, washing, gas, alkalies, and other agents; their affinity for different fibers; their reaction to cleaning agents and methods; and their solubility and method of application. Various classes and types are listed below. [Also see COLOUR INDEX (CI).] Acid Dyes: A class of dyes used on wool, other animal fibers, and some manufactured fibers. Acid dyes are seldom used on cotton or linen since this process requires a mordant. Acid dyes are widely used on nylon when high washfastness is required. In some cases, even higher washfastness can be obtained by aftertreatment with fixatives. Aniline Dyes: Dyes derived chemically from aniline or other coal tar derivatives. Anthraquinone Dyes: Dyes that have anthraquinone as their base and the carbonyl group (>C=O) as the chromophore. Anthraquinone-based dyes are found in most of the synthetic dye classes. Azo Dyes: Dyes characterized by the presence of an azo group (-N=N-) as the chromophore. Azo dyes are found in many of the synthetic dye classes. Azoic Dyes: See DYES, Naphthol Dyes. Basic Dyes: A class of positive-ion-carrying dyes known for their brilliant hues. Basic dyes are composed of large-molecule, water-soluble salts that have a direct affinity for wool and silk and can be applied to cotton with a mordant. The fastness of basic dyes on these fibers is very poor. Basic dyes are also used on basic-dyeable acrylics, modacrylics, nylons, and polyesters, on which they exhibit reasonably good fastness. Cationic Dyes: See DYES, Basic Dyes. Developed Dyes: Dyes that are formed by the use of a developer. The substrate is first dyed in a neutral solution with a dye base, usually colorless. The dye is then diazotized with sodium nitrate and an acid and afterwards treated with a solution of B-naphthol, or a similar substance, which is the developer. Direct dyes are developed to produce a different shade or to improve washfastness or lightfastness. Direct Dyes: A class of dyestuffs that are applied directly to the substrate in a neutral or alkaline bath. They produce full shades on cotton and linen without mordanting and can also be applied to rayon, silk, and wool. Direct dyes give bright shades but exhibit poor washfastness. Various aftertreatments are used to improve the washfastness of direct dyes, and such dyes are referred to as “aftertreated direct colors.” Disperse Dyes: A class of slightly water-soluble dyes originally introduced for dyeing acetate and usually applied from fine aqueous suspensions. Disperse dyes are widely used for dyeing most of the manufactured fibers. Fiber-Reactive Dyes: A type of water-soluble anionic dye having affinity for cellulose fibers. In the presence of alkali, they react with hydroxyl groups in the cellulose and thus are liked with the

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fiber. Fiber-reactive dyes are relatively new dyes and are used extensively on cellulosics when bright shades are desired. Gel Dyeing: Passing a wet-spun fiber that is in the gel state (not yet at full crystallinity or orientation) through a dyebath containing dye with affinity for the fiber. This process provides good accessibility of the dye sites. Macromolecular Dyes: A group of inherently colored polymers. They are useful both as polymers and as dyes with high color yield. The chromophores fit the recognized CI classes, i.e., azo, anthraquinone, etc., although not all CI classes are represented. Used for mass dyeing, hair dyes, writing inks, etc. Metallized Dyes: A class of dyes that have metals in their molecular structure. They are applied from an acid bath. Naphthol Dyes: A type of azo compound formed on the fiber by first treating the fiber with a phenolic compound. The fiber is then immersed in a second solution containing a diazonuim salt that reacts with the phenilic compound to produce a colored azo compound. Since the phenolic compound is dissolved in caustic solution, these dyes are mainly used for cellulose fiber, although other fibers can be dyed by modifying the process. (Also see DYES, Developed Dyes.) Premetallized Dyes: Acid dyes that are treated with coordinating metals such as chromium. This type of dye has much better wetfastness than regular acid dye. Premetallized dyes are used on nylon, silk, and wool. Sulfur Dyes: A class of water-insoluble dyes that are applied in a soluble, reduced form from a sodium sulfide solution and are then reoxidized to the insoluble form on the fiber. Sulfur dyes are mainly used on cotton for economical dark shades of moderate to good fastness to washing and light. They generally give very poor fastness to chlorine. Vat Dyes: A class of water-insoluble dyes which are applied to the fiber in a reduced, soluble form (leuco compound) and then reoxidized to the original insoluble form. Vat dyes are among the most resistant dyes to both washing and sunlight. They are widely used on cotton, linen rayon, and other cellulosic fibers. DYE SITES: Functional groups within a fiber that provide sites for chemical bonding with the dye molecule. Dye sites may be either in the polymer chain or in chemical additives included in the fiber. DYESTUFF: See DYES. DYNAMIC ADHESION: The ability of a cord-to-rubber bond to resist degradation resulting from flexure. DYNAPOINT PROCESS: A continuous computer-controlled process for manufacturing tufted carpets with intricate patterns from undyed yarn. The carpet is dyed as it is tufted and the colors and pattern are clearly visible through the primary backing of the carpet.

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E
EASE-OF-CARE: A term used to characterize fabrics that, after laundering, can be restored to their original appearance with a minimum of ironing or other treatment. An ease-of-care fabric generally wrinkles only slightly upon laundering. (Also see DURABLE PRESS and WASHAND-WEAR.) EASY-CARE: See EASE-OF-CARE. EDGE CRIMPING: See TEXTURING, Edge Crimping Method. EDGE ROLL: The curl that develops on the edge of a single-knit fabric preventing it from lying flat. ELASTICITY: The ability of a strained material to recover its original size and shape immediately after removal of the stress that causes deformation. ELASTICIZED FABRIC: A fabric that contains elastic threads. Such fabrics are used for girdles, garters, and similar items. ELASTIC LIMIT: In strength and stretch testing, the load below which the specimen shows elasticity and above which it shows permanent deformation. (Also see YIELD POINT.) ELASTIC RECOVERY: The degree to which fibers, yarn, or cord returns to its original size and shape after deformation from stress. ELASTOMERS: Synthetic polymers having properties of natural rubber such as high stretchability and recovery. ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY: 1. A measure of the ease of transporting electric charge from one point to another in an electric field. 2. The reciprocal of resistivity. ELECTRICAL FINISH: A finish designed to increase or maintain electrical resistivity of a textile material. ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY: The resistance of longitudinal electrical flow through a uniform rod of unit length and unit cross-sectional area. ELMENDORF TEAR TESTER: A tester designer to determine the tearing strength of paper. It is also used to measure the tearing strength of very lightweight fabrics and resin-finished apparel fabrics. A trapezoidal fabric sample is employed. ELONGATION: The deformation in the direction of load caused by a tensile force. Elongation is measured in units of length (e.g., millimeters, inches) or calculated as a percentage of the original specimen length. Elongation may be measured at any specified load or at the breaking load.

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ELONGATION AT BREAK: The increase in length when the last component of the specimen breaks. EMBOSSING: A calendering process for producing raised or projected figures or designs in relief on fabric surfaces. Embossed surfaces are usually produced on fabrics by engraved, heated rollers that give a raised effect. Embossed velvet or plush is made by shearing the pile to different levels or by pressing part of the pile flat. EMBROIDERY: Ornamental designs worked on a fabric with threads. Embroidery may be done either by hand or by machine. EMULSION: A suspension of finely divided liquid droplets in a second liquid, i.e., oil in water or vice versa. EMULSION POLYMERIZATION: A three-phase reaction system consisting of monomer, an aqueous phase containing the initiator, and colloidal particles of polymer. Polymerization takes place in the colloidal phase. The process enables the production of very high molecular weights at increased polymerization rates. Only applicable to addition polymers. EMULSION SPINNING: The process of spinning synthetic polymers in dispersion form, then heating to coalesce the dispersed particles. Normally a matrix polymer provides support until coalescence is completed. END: 1. An individual warp yarn. A warp is composed of a number of ends. 2. An individual sliver, slubbing, roving, yarn, thread, or cord. 3. A short length or remnant of fabric. END OUT: A void caused by a missing warp yarn. ENERGY ABSORPTION: The energy required to break or elongate a fiber to a certain point. ENERGY-TO-BREAK: The total energy required to rupture a yarn or cord. ENTANGLED YARNS: See COMPACTED YARNS. ENTANGLING: 1. A method of forming a fabric by wrapping and knotting fibers in a web about each other, by mechanical means, or by the use of jets of pressurized water, so as to bond the fibers. (Also see HYDROENTANGLING and SPUNLACED FABRIC.) 2. See INTERMINGLING. ENTERING: The process of threading each warp yarn on a loom beam through a separate drop wire, heddle, and reed space in preparation for weaving. This process may be done by hand or by a semiautomatic machine. EPITROPIC FIBERS: Fibers with an altered surface property, e.g., electrically conducting, abrasive, etc. EPOXY RESIN: In textiles, a compound used in durable-press applications for white fabrics. It provides chlorine resistance but causes loss of tensile strength. EQUIVALENT SINGLE YARN NUMBER: See YARN NUMBER, EQUIVALET SINGLE.

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EROSION CONTROL FABRICS: See GEOTEXTILES. ESTERIFICATION: The chemical process of combining an acid and an alcohol to form an ester. Cellulose acetate is an ester formed by the reaction of acetic acid and the hydroxyl groups of cellulose. Polyethylene terephthalate, the most common fiber-forming polyester, is a product of esterification of teraphthalic acid with ethylene glycol. ESTER INTERCHANGE: See TRANSESTERIFICATION. ESTHETICS: See AESTHETICS. ETCHING: See PRINTING, Burn-Out Printing. ETHYLENE: A petroleum derivative (C2H4) that is the raw material for polyethylene. ETHYLENE GLYCOL: A viscous, sweet, colorless liquid, (CH2OHCH2OH). Principal uses are as an intermediate in the manufacture of polyester fibers and as automobile antifreeze. EVENNESS TESTING: Determination of the variation in weight per unit length and thickness of yarns or fibers aggregates such as roving, sliver, or top. EXCESSIVE CLEARER WASTE: A higher that normal amount of short and regular fibers that become attached to the drafting rolls and are transferred to the clearer brushes to accumulate in abnormal amounts until they are removed manually. EXHAUSTION: During wet processing, the ratio at any time between the amount of dye or substance taken up by the substrate and the amount originally available. EXTENDED LENGTH: The length of a face pile yarn required to produce one inch of tufted carpet. EXTENSIBILITY: The ability of a materiel to undergo elongation on the application of force. (Also see ELONGATION.) EXTRACTABLES: The material that can be removed from textiles by means of a solvent (in many cases, water). EXTRACTION: Removal of one substance from another, often accomplished by means of a solvent. EXTRACT PRINTING: See PRINTING, Discharge Printing. EXTRUDER: 1. Generally a machine in which molten or semisoft materials are forced under pressure through a die to form continuous tubes, sheets, or fibers. It may consist of a barrel, heating elements, a screw, ram or plunger, and a die through which the material is pushed to give it shape. 2. In fiber manufacture the machine that feeds molten polymer to an extrusion manifold or that first melts the polymer in a uniform manner then feeds it to a manifold and associateD equipment for extrusion. (Also see SCREW MELTER.) EXTRUSION: See SPINNING, 2.

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EYELET: 1. A series of small holes made to receive a string or tape. A buttonhole stitch is worked around the holes. 2. A type of yarn guide used on a creel. 3. A fabric style with areas of cut-outs surrounded by stitching.

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F
FABRIC: A planar textile structure produces by interlacing yarns, fibers, or filaments. FABRIC CONSTRUCTION: The details of structure of fabric. Includes such information as style, width, type of knit of weave, threads per inch in warp and fill, and weight of goods. FABRIC CRIMP: The angulation induced between a yarn and woven fabric via the weaving or braiding process. FABRIC CRIMP ANGLE: The maximum acute angle of a single weaving yarn’s direction measured from a plane parallel to the surface of the fabric. FABRIC SETT: The number of warp threads per inch, or other convenient unit. FABRIC STABILIZER: Resin or latex treatment for scrims used in coated fabric manufacture to stabilize the scrim for further processing. FACE: The correct or better-looking side of a fabric. FACING: A lining or trim that protects the edges of a garment especially at collars, cuffs, and front closings. FACONNÉ: A broad term for fabrics with a fancy-type weave made on a Jacquard or dobby loom. FADE-OMETER®: Laboratory device used to determine the fastness of a colored fabric to exposure to light. The test pieces are rotated around a light source simulating the sun’s rays at 45° N latitude in July between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fabrics are rated by visual comparison with a gray scale according to degree of fading. FAILLE: A soft, slightly glossy woven fabric made of silk, rayon, cotton, wool, or manufactured fibers or combinations of these fibers and having a light, flat crossgrain rib or cord made by using heavier yarns in the filling than in the warp. FALSE-TWISTING: See TEXTURING, False-Twist Method. FANCY YARN: See NOVELTY YARN. FASCIATED YARN: Yarns consisting of a core of discontinuous fibers with little or no twist and surface fibers wrapped around the core bundle.

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FASHIONING: The process of shaping a fabric during knitting by increasing or decreasing the number of needles in action. Fashioning is used in manufacturing hosiery, underwear, and sweaters. FASTNESS: See COLORFASTNESS. FATIGUE: Refers to the resistance of a material to weakening or failure during alternate tension-compression cycles, i.e., in stretch yarns, the loss of ability to recover after having been stretched. FEEL: See HAND. FELL: 1. The end of a piece of fabric that is woven last. 2. In weaving, the last filling pick laid in the fabric at any time. FELT: 1. A nonwoven sheet of matted material of wool, hair, or fur, sometimes in combination with certain manufactured fibers, made by a combination of mechanical and chemical action, pressure, moisture, and heat. 2. A woven fabric generally made from wool, but occasionally from cotton or certain manufactured fibers, that is heavily shrunk and fulled, making it almost impossible to distinguish the weave. FELTING: 1. The process of exposing wool fibers alone or in combination with other fibers to mechanical and chemical action, pressure, moisture, and heat so that they tangle, shrink, and mat to form a compact material. Felting is generally carried out in a fulling mill. (Also see FULLING.) 2. See NEEDLEPUNCHING and NEEDLED FABRIC. FESTOON DRYER: A dryer in which cloth is suspended in loops over a series of supporting horizontal poles and carried through the heated chamber in this configuration. FIBER: A unit of matter, either natural or manufactured, that forms the basic element of fabrics and other textile structures. A fiber is characterized by having a length at least 100 times its diameter or width. The term refers to units that can be spun into a yarn or made into a fabric by various methods including weaving, knitting, braiding, felting, and twisting. The essential requirements for fibers to be spun into yarn include a length of at least 5 millimeters, flexibility, cohesiveness, and sufficient strength. Other important properties include elasticity, fineness, uniformity, durability, and luster. (Also see MANUFACTURED FIBER and NATURAL FIBER.) FIBER ARCHITECTURE: The spatial arrangement of fibers in the preform. Each architecture has a definite repeating unit. FIBER DISTRIBUTION: In a web, the orientation (random or parallel) of fibers and the uniformity of their arrangement. FIBERFILL: Manufactured fibers that have been specially engineered for use as filling material for pillows, mattress pads, comforters, sleeping bags, quilted outerwear, etc. Polyester fibers are widely used.

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FIBER MIGRATION: See MIGRATION, 2. FIBER NUMBER: The linear density of a fiber expressed in units such as denier or tex. (Also see FINENESS.) FIBER PLACEMENT: In general, refers to how the piles are laid into their orientation, i.e., by hand, by a textile process, by a tape layer, or by a filament winder. Tolerances and angles are specified. Microprocessor-controlled placement that gives precise control of each axis of motion permits more intricate winding patterns than are possible with conventional winding and is used to make composites that are more complex that usual filament-wound structures. FIBER-REACTIVE DYES: See DYES. FIBRETS: Very short (