Package dyed
(See "Dye methods.")
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Pad dyed
(See "Dye methods.")
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Parallel spinning
Spinning method most commonly used in spinning nylon
staple fibre into yarn. Staple fibres measuring 6" to 8" are paralleled
by combing and drafting until the fibres are in regular even slivers,
or strands of combed yarn. Multiple slivers are combined to make up
one finely drafted sliver. This sliver can be further blended for
extreme consistency. The final sliver is put on a spinning frame and
further drawn (or pulled) as twist is applied, turning the fibre into
a cohesive singles yarn ready to be plied and heatset. (See "Sliver.")
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Pattern match
Lining up patterned carpet in such a way
that the design element is continued across seams, making the finished
installation appear cohesive. Patterns must be matched in the same way
as they appear on the carpet itself either in a set match or drop match.
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Pattern streaks
Visually apparent streaking in patterned
carpet resulting from linear juxtaposition of pattern elements in one
direction. It is usually most visible in the length direction. It is
not a carpet defect, but is inherent in certain designs. Contract specifiers
should view rolls of carpet laid out on a floor to evaluate geometric
or other busy patterns for this characteristic which may be objectionable
in long corridors and other large areas, but not visible in small rooms.
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Patterned loop
A woven or tufted carpet style having all
tufts in a loop form (either level or textured) in either a defined
or random pattern and design.
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Picks per inch
In woven carpet and fabric, the number of
fill yarns per inch of length. Comparable to stitches per inch in tufting.
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Piece dyed
A method in which tufted carpet is dyed,
as opposed to yarn dye methods in which colour is added to yarn before
tufting. (See "Dye methods.")
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Pigment
Highly coloured, insoluble substance used
to impart colour to other materials. White pigments, e.g., titanium dioxide,
are dispersed in fibre polymers to produce delustered (semi-dull and
dull) fibres. Coloured pigments are added to polymer to create producer
coloured or solution dyed yarns.
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Pigmented yarns
Same as solution
dyed yarns.
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Pile
The visible surface of carpet, consisting
of yarn tufts in loop and/or cut configuration. Sometimes called the
face or nap.
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Pile crush
Loss of pile thickness by compression and
bending of tufts caused by foot traffic and heavy pressure from stationary
furniture. The tufts collapse into the space between them. It may be
irreversible if the yarn has inadequate resilience and/or the pile has
insufficient density for the traffic load.
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Pile height
The length of the tufts measured from the
primary backing top surface to their tips. Pile tufts should be gently
extended but not stretched during accurate measurement. This specification
is expressed in fractions of an inch or decimal fractions of an inch
in the U.S.
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Pile reversal
A persistent change in the direction of the
pile lay in certain areas resulting in an apparent visual difference
of shade. Also known as watermarking, pooling or shading.
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Pile thickness
The resulting thickness when the thickness
of the backing is subtracted from the total thickness of the finished
carpet.
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Pile weight
The weight in ounces of the fibre in a square
yard of carpet.
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Pile yarn
The yarn making up the tufts of the carpet.
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Pilling
The tendency of fibres to work loose from
a surface and form balled or matted particles that remain attached to
the surface of the carpet.
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Pill test
(See "Flame resistance tests.")
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Pin drafter
A mechanism used in parallel spinning to orient the fibres by using combing pins and rollers.
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Pitch
(See "Gauge/pitch.")
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Plush
A smooth, highly finished, level cut pile carpet. A plush is lower and more dense than a saxony. In a plush, each individual yarn end is less distinguishable than in a saxony.
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Ply
A measure of the number of individual yarns
twisted together to produce the finished carpet yarn. For example, a
two-ply yarn means that each tuft consists of two yarns twisted together.
Plied yarns must be heatset to prevent untwisting under traffic.
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Polyester fibre
A synthetic fibre, usually produced with
staple fibre and spun yarns, that is used in some carpet fibre.
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Polymer
Polymers are large chemical molecules from
which synthetic fibres are made. Polymers are complex, chain-like molecules
made by uniting simpler molecules called monomers. Synthetic polymers
used for commercial carpet fibre include Type 6,6 nylon and Type 6 nylon
(polyamides) and polypropylene.
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Polymerization
The first stage of nylon production:
A chemical reaction where small molecules combine to form much larger
molecules.
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Polypropylene
(See "Olefin
fibre .")
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Post-dyed
Carpet that has been dyed in its tufted
form. Post-dyed means the carpet rather than the yarn has been dyed.
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Pre-dyed
Carpet that has been constructed with pre-dyed
yarns
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Primary backing
(See "Backing
systems.")
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Printed carpet
Carpet having printed coloured patterns.
Printing methods include flatbed screen printing, rotary screen printing,
and modern computer-programmed jet injection printing.
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Producer-coloured pigment
Colour introduced into nylon fibre at the
nylon manufacturing stage. (See also Solution-dyed)
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