Cc

Cabled Yarn
A yarn formed by twisting together two or more plied yarns.

Caprolactam
The single basic ingredient in the production of Type 6 nylon. Caprolactam has a chain of six carbon atoms. It is a petrochemical.

Carding
The step after blending in the staple spinning process which combs out the loose fibers and arranges them in orderly strands called sliver. Sliver is drawn and blended, then twisted and further drawn into yarns.

Dr. Wallace Carothers
The inventor of nylon. Dr. Carothers invented nylon in 1938. He first developed and refined Type 6,6 nylon.

Carpet Tile
(See "Modular carpet or tile.")

Cationic Dyeable Nylon
Nylon polymer that has been modified chemically to make the fiber receptive to cationic (basic) dyes. Cationic dyeable yarns are used in conjunction with acid dyeable yarns to produce multicolors in piece dye methods.

Cleanability
The ability or degree that a stain is removed from a carpet.

Color Matching
The process of comparing colors, either by eye or by instrument, and making adjustments if necessary, with the intent of reducing differences between the item being colored and the standard. Critical to color matching are:

1. The light under which the colors are compared. (The light source being used in the real conditions of the commercial environment should be used to match colors).
2. The surface texture of the object being matched (cut pile carpet can appear darker than loop made of the same yarn).
3. The surface luster of the object being matched (higher luster yarn can look darker than lower luster fibers).

Colorfastness
The ability of a carpet or fiber to retain color when exposed to (1) ultraviolet light, (2) crocking (wet or dry), or (3) atmospheric conditions (according to manufacturers' and government test standards).

Commercial Matching
Matching of colors within acceptable tolerances or with a color variation that is barely detectable to the naked eye.

Commingled Yarn
see "Air Entangling"

Computer Grade Carpet
This term generally refers to carpet products that are said to be "safe" for use around computers of all types, due to low static generation. In some cases, this term may be used in connection with a true ESD carpet product whereas in other cases the carpet product may not meet those requirements. The development of permanent static control in commercial carpet products and static-damage-resistant electronics for computers and other electronic devices (phones, faxes, PDAs, CD and MP3 players, etc.) has eliminated the need for "computer grade carpet" in any application that does not fit the requirements for a true ESD carpet product (see "ESD (Electrostatic Discharge carpet").

Construction
The carpet manufacturing method, usually tufted, woven or bonded. The term also can refer to the specific details of a particular carpet's specification, including fiber type, yarn twist level, density, method of dyeing, etc.

Continuous Dyeing
Dyeing of carpet (greige) while it travels continuously through a dye range. The process is frequently referred to by the name of one of the prime machinery manufacturers, Eduard Kuster (pronounced "Kooster"). Continuous dyeing can produce multicolored or solid-colored carpet. Multicolored carpet is achieved by using cross-dyeable yarns or with various accessories that can give a pattern or overprint. Advantages include large dye lots, relatively low cost and color flexibility. However, this method is more critical than beck dyeing or yarn dyeing for side-to-side matching consistency (the carpet must be installed in roll sequence). (See "Dye methods.")

Continuous Filament
Unbroken strand of synthetic fiber, such as filament nylon or olefin. Nylon and olefin are made by extruding molten polymer through a spinnerette (similar to a showerhead). The fibers are cooled, then stretched and textured into bundles referred to as yarn. This yarn can be plied or commingled with other yarn and then tufted.

Continuous Heatsetting
The process of applying heat to yarns to "set" or retain bulk, twist and spring introduced by spinning and/or twisting. Continuous heatsetting can be applied to staple or continuous filament yarns. The two primary types of continuous heatsetting equipment are the Superba, which uses steam and pressure, and the Suessen, which uses dry heat. (See "Heatsetting.")

Converter
An intermediate that usually buys raw fiber, processes it to a carpet manufacturer's specification, then sells the finished product to the carpet manufacturer.

Cotton Count
The yarn numbering system based on length and weight originally used for cotton yarns and now employed for most staple yarns. It is based on a unit length of 840 yards, and the count of the yarn is equal to the number of 840-yard skeins required to weigh one pound. Under this system, the higher the number, the finer the yarn. A typical carpet yarn might be a three cotton count two plied, written as 3.0/2c.c.

Creel
The rack or frame located behind a tufting machine which holds the cones of pile yarn that feed into the needles of a tufting machine.

Crimp
In fiber, a nonlinear configuration, such as a sawtooth, zigzag or random curl relative to the fiber axis. Most synthetic fibers, both staple and filament, used in carpets are crimped. Fiber crimp increases bulk and cover and facilitates interlocking of staple fibers in spun yarns. (See "Texturizing.")

Crockfastness
The resistance of transfer of colorant from the surface of a colored yarn or fabric to another surface, or to an adjacent area of the same fabric, principally by rubbing.

Crocking
The removal of dye from a fabric by rubbing. Crocking can be caused by 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.

Cross Section
The shape of a fiber when cut perpendicular to its axis. Man-made fiber cross sections vary to produce a wide variety of physical effects such as soil-hiding characteristics, soil releasing, luster, and fineness or coarseness. The most advanced carpet filament cross section is the four-hole hollow filament. The most advanced carpet staple cross section is the modified delta.

Crushing
The collapsing of pile yarns, resulting in carpet matting and loss of resilience. This form of carpet failure usually occurs in the areas of heaviest traffic. It is also called "matting" and "walking out." It can be minimized by the use of more resilient fibers, denser construction, somewhat higher weight and (in cut pile) with higher tuft twist and proper heatsetting.

Curvilinear Crimp
The three-dimensional crimp patented by INVISTA for its bcf yarn. This texture is added to the yarn by a series of air jets. Curvilinear crimp gives consistency, bulk and spring-back memory that is needed in the manufacture of cut pile filament carpets and streak-free loop carpets (see "Texturizing").

Cushion-Backed Carpet
Carpet having a cushion, padding or underlay material as an integral part of its backing.

Cut and Loop Pile
Carpet whose face shows a pattern, either geometric or floral, made up of a combination of loop pile tufts and cut pile tufts. Also called cut/uncut. The carpet can be dyed solid or multicolored.

Cut Pile
A pile surface created by cutting the loops of yarn in a tufted, woven or fusion-bonded carpet.

Abrasion Resistance to Axminster Back Coating to Bulking Cable Yarn to Cut Pile Dead Yarn to Dye Site End to Extrusion Face Weight to Fuzzing Gauge/Pitch to Grinning Hand to Hybrid Carpet Indoor Air Quality to ISO

J-Cut to Jute Knitting to Kuster Latex to Luster Matting to Multilevel Loop Pile Nap to Nylon—Type 6,6 Olefin Fiber to Ozone Fading No Terms Available- Q Random Sheared to Rows or Wires Sawtooth Crimp to Synthetic Fiber

Tensile Strength to Two-Ply Unitary to Urethane Velvet Carpet to Vinyl Warp to Woven Carpet Xenon Arc Lamp Yarn to Yarn Weight Zippering