Carpet is a type of textile floor covering that can be used in residential or commercial areas. It can be made with natural or synthetic fibers. The main types of carpets are woven, cut pile, and loop. Each type is constructed in a slightly different way.
The first step in manufacturing a carpet is tufting. Tufting is a process in which the yarns are inserted through meshes of sturdy fabric and hooked through a machine. This machine looks like a large sewing machine. Once the fiber is inserted, the next step is to apply latex to the backing. These steps are usually completed in one production line.
The second part of carpet manufacture is dyeing. There are two main dyeing methods: natural dyes and yarn dyeing. Natural dyes are made from plants or insects. They are durable and provide a subtle colour. However, they tend to decompose fibres. In most cases, chemicals have been used to make the dyes more stable and durable.
Yarn dyeing provides uniformity and good side-by-side color consistency. Unlike other dyeing methods, yarn dyeing offers large lot sizes and can be used to produce a variety of colors. Some yarns, including nylon and polypropylene, are colorfast.
Carpets are typically produced in widths of 12 feet and 15 feet. This is common in the United States, though wider carpets are found in Europe. Floors covered in carpets are less expensive than other hard surfaces, and they also reduce the noise caused by foot traffic.
Carpets can be made with either wool or synthetic fibers. Wool is often the most expensive of the two. Nylon and polyesters are generally less expensive and offer the same durability. Acrylic is popular for high-pile styles, and is the most durable of the three. Polypropylene is the best known specific form of olefin, and is colorfast.
Other types of carpet include knitted, flat-woven, and needle felt. Knitted carpets are more dimensionally stable than tufting. They can also be produced on a loom. But these are much more costly than tufted or needle-felted carpets.
Turkish carpets are made from wool and sometimes cotton. They are very well known for their artistic value, and they are considered to be a form of protection against cold weather. Their designs, which are often geometric and repeat, feature blazons of noble Christian Spanish families.
Carpets are available in many colours and designs. Most antique carpets are classified by the region and manufactory in which they were made. Although carpets were not commonly used on floors in Europe until the 15th century, isolated instances of carpet production predate that date.
Carpets are primarily made by women. As such, they are a traditional skill. Carpet weaving has been practiced in China for centuries, and it has a long history of exporting traditional goods. During the Mughal era, the carpet weaving industry flourished in the northern parts of India, especially Agra and Kashmir. Today, the carpet (kilim) industry is still dominant in Chiprovtsi, Bulgaria.
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