Package Dyed to Producer-Colored Pigment
Pp
Package Dyed
Similar to skein dyeing, package dyeing is a yarn coloration process. Yarns are wound onto perforated tubes in package dye machines which are either pressurized or atmospheric. Dye liquor is circulated by reversible pumps which force it through the yarn both from package center outward and inward towards the center in two or more cycles to achieve level dyeing. Although package dyeing is well established in textiles, it is seldom used for carpet yarns. This is due to the fact that tightly wound dye package inhibits yarn bulk development.
Parallel Spinning
Spinning method most commonly used in spinning nylon staple fiber into yarn. Staple fibers measuring 6" to 8" are paralleled by combing and drafting until the fibers 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 fiber into a cohesive singles yarn ready to be plied and heatset.
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.
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.
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.
Picks per inch
In woven carpet and fabric, the number of fill yarns per inch of length.
Piece Dyed
A method in which tufted carpet is dyed, as opposed to yarn dye methods in which color is added to yarn before tufting.
Pigment
Highly colored, insoluble substance used to impart color to other materials. White pigments, e.g., titanium dioxide, are dispersed in fiber polymers to produce delustered (semi-dull and dull) fibers. Colored pigments are added to polymer to create producer colored or solution dyed yarns.
Pigmented Yarns
Dull or colored yarn spun from a solution to which pigment has been added.
Pile
The visible surface of carpet, consisting of yarn tufts in loop and/or cut configuration. Also called the face or nap.
Pile Crush
Loss of pile thickness by compressing and bending of tufts caused by foot traffic and heavy 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.
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.
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.
Pile Thickness
The resulting thickness when the thickness of the backing is subtracted from the total thickness of the finished carpet.
Pile Weight
The weight in ounces of the fiber in a square yard of carpet.
Pile Yarn
The yarn making up the tufts of the carpet.
Pilling
The tendency of fibers to work loose from a surface and form balled or matted particles that remain attached to the surface of the carpet.
Pin Drafter
A mechanism used in parallel spinning to orient the fibers by using combing pins and rollers.
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.
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.
Polyester fiber
A synthetic fiber, usually produced with staple fiber and spun yarns, that is used in some carpet fiber.
Polymer
Polymers are large chemical molecules from which synthetic fibers are made.
Polymerization
The first stage of nylon production:
A chemical reaction where small molecules combine to form much larger molecules.
Post-dyed
Carpet that has been dyed in its tufted form. Post-dyed means the carpet rather than the yarn has been dyed.
Pre-dyed
Carpet that has been constructed with pre-dyed yarns
Printed carpet
Carpet having printed colored patterns. Printing methods include flatbed screen printing, rotary screen printing, and modern computer-programmed jet injection printing.
Producer-colored pigment
Color introduced into nylon fiber at the nylon manufacturing stage.
Carpet Industry Terms and Glossary
For your convenience, the following are terms and definitions relating to carpet manufacturing, arranged from A to Z.
