 Antimicrobial Agent (AM)
| A chemical compound that either destroys or inhibits the growth of microscopic and submicroscopic organisms. |
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Calender
| A machine in which heavy rollers rotate in contact under pressure; used to smooth and flatten fabric, to close the intersections between the yarns, and to confer a surface glaze. |
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Coated fabric
| A material composed of two or more layers, at least one of which is a textile fabric and at least one of which is a substantially continuous polymeric layer. |
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Cross-linking
| The creation of chemical bonds between polymer molecules to form a three-dimensional polymeric network, e.g., in a fiber. This generally restricts swelling, inhibits solubility and alters elastic recovery. |
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Curing
| A process following application of a finish to textile fabrics in which appropriate conditions are used to effect a chemical reaction. |
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Durable press (permanent press)
| A finishing treatment designed to impart to a textile material or garment the retention of specific contours including defined creases and pleats resistant to normal usage, washing or dry cleaning. |
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Flame Retardant (FR)
| A substance used to impart improved flame resistance to a material. |
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Flame Resistance
The property of a material whereby flaming combustion is slowed, terminated or prevented.
Note — Flame resistance can be an inherent property of the basic material or it may be imparted by a specific treatment. The degree of flame resistance exhibited by a material during testing may vary with test conditions.
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Flammability
| The ability of a material or product to burn with a flame under specified test conditions. |
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Fleece
| Fleecy fabric, weft-knitted: A general term for any plain weft-knitted fabric which has been brushed or raised on one or both sides. A specific term for a plain, weft-knitted fabric with a ground yarn in which a yarn of low twist, laid-in and secured by a binder (yarn), appears on the back of the fabric and may be brushed or raised. |
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Foam finishing
| The application of one or more liquid chemical finishes in the form of a foam to a textile material with the advantage of low wet pick-up. |
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Hydrophilic
| Water loving; having a high degree of moisture absorption or attraction. |
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Hydrophobic
| Water repelling; having a low degree of moisture absorption or attraction. |
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Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI)
| The minimum concentration of oxygen in a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen that will just support combustion of a material under specified test conditions. |
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Moisture Regain
| The moisture in a material determined under prescribed conditions and expressed as a percentage of the weight of the moisture-free specimen. |
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Resiliency
| Ability of a fabric to return to its original shape after compressing, bending or other deformation. |
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Sanforizing®
| Commercial process in which a fabric is caused to shrink in length, e.g., by controlled compression |
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Soil Release
| A textile finish which makes it easier to remove soiling or stains by ordinary domestic washing. |
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Spectroscopy
| The branch of physics concerned with the production, measurement, and interpretation of electromagnetic spectra arising from either emission or absorption of radiant energy by various substances. |
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Surfactant
| An agent, soluble or dispersible in a liquid, which decreases the surface tension of the liquid; contraction of “surface-active agent” |
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Tenter Frame; stenter
| An open-width fabric-finishing machine in which the selvedges are held by a pair of endless traveling chains maintaining tension; used for drying, heat setting, fixing dyes and finishes, and controlling fabric width. |
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Waterproof
| Ability of a fabric to be fully resistant to penetration by water. |
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Wet pick-up
| The weight of liquor taken up by a given weight of fabric after impregnation, spraying, or coating |
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Wicking
| The passage of liquids along or through a textile material or along the interstices formed by the testile element and coating polymer of a coated fabric. |
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Wrinkle recovery
| A laboratory test to measure the angle (degrees) of recovery from wrinkling or creasing. |
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