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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.