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Texture:
Visual and tactile surface characteristics of carpet pile, including such
aesthetic and structural elements as high-low and cut and loop patterning,
yarn twist, pile erectness or layover, harshness or softness to the touch,
luster, and yarn dimensions.
Textured loop:
A woven or tufted carpet style
having all tufts in a loop form, usually with two or three pile heights.
There is generally less difference between the lowest and highest pile
heights than would be found in a multilevel loop carpet.
Tip definition:
Visible individual twisted cut yarn ends in a carpet surface. If, under
heavy wear and pivoting, the tufts have been splayed open, the carpet
is said to have lost its tip definition.
Tip sheared carpet:
A textured loop pile carpet that has been sheared to create a cut and
loop appearance.
Tip shearing:
Shaving off tufted high loops in the finishing process to create a cut
and loop texture or pattern.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2):
A compound that is used primarily as a delusterant in fibre.
Total weight:
Weight (ounces) per square yard of the total carpet pile yarn, primary
and secondary backings and coatings.
Tuft:
A cluster of yarns drawn through a fabric and projecting from the surface
in the form of cut yarns or loops. See also "Cut pile," "Cut
and loop pile," "Level loop pile," "Loop pile"
and "Multilevel loop pile."
Tufted carpet:
Carpet produced by a tufting machine instead of a loom.
Tufting:
A method of carpet manufacture in which surface yarns are sewn or "punched"
through a primary backing material. The needles of the tufting machine
form loops that are hooked by loopers on the underside of the backing
material and which remain loops in level or textured loop carpet. Alternatively,
the loops are tufted and cut with knives to create cut pile carpet. The
tufted fabric is then coated with an adhesive to adhere a secondary back
to provide durability and stability. In the past 5-7 years there have
been significant advances in tufting technology, allowing for more intricate
patterns and textures.
Turns per inch (TPI):
The number of times two or more yarns have been plied in an inch length.
Also known as input ply twist. Most carpet yarns have 3.5 to 6.0 TPI.
Twist:
A yarn term describing the number of turns per inch and direction of twist
of either the singles or plies around their axes. Twist direction is either
right- or left-handed, also called "Z" or "S" twist.
The performance of a cut pile carpet is dependent on the twist in the
pile yarn. Spun yarns need more twist than filament yarns for good
performance. For moderate or heavy commercial use cut pile, it is suggested
that continuous filament have a minimum of 4.50 TPI while spun yarns have
a minimum ply twist of 4.75 TPI.
Two-ply:
Most common yarn ply. Two single yarns are twisted together, then heatset
to maintain their twisted configuration. Can be used in either cut or
loop pile carpet.
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