INT323GMC

  Construction & Fiber Content Gina Christopher Carpet Tile: Carpet tiles are usually constructed in square pieces. These pieces usually include a durable backing, primary backing, and a face fiber. Backings are made from materials such as PVC or polyurethane to provide stability. The face fibers are tufted or looped into a primary baking. Carpet tiles are typically made from synthetic materials, such as nylon, polyester, or polypropylene. Synthetic fibers are a suitable choice for carpet tiles due to their durability, stain resistance, and affordability. Nylon is the most popular choice for carpet tiles in commercial applications because it can withstand the wear and tear of high-traffic areas.   Area Rugs: Area rugs are usually constructed as single finished pieces, unlike carpet tiles. Area rugs can be made using various techniques, including hand-knotting, hand-tufting, flat-weaving, and machine weaving. Area rugs have a pile, warp, and weft threads, and so...

  Fiber to Yarn/Fabric Gina Christopher Flax: Linen fabrics are made from the flax plant. Flax is the only natural fiber still being cultivated on a large scale in Western Europe. The best flax plants are grown between Kahn in France and Amsterdam in Holland where climatic conditions in soil are ideal. The growing cycle of the flax plant is short with only 100 days between sewing and March and harvesting in July. The plant grows to an ideal height of approximately 4 feet. When close to maturity, the flax plant blooms, dotting the fields with blossoms of Violet blue or white. Flax is never cut. It must be uprooted because the fibers are in the stem of the plant and in the roots. Harvesting is done by mechanical grubbers who pull and lay the flax plant on the fields. During the ratting process, the flax is exposed to moisture to break down the pectins that bind the fibers together in the stem. The flax is spread out on the field exposed to the elements for several weeks. The ...

Fiber Basics Gina Christopher Nylon Production: Nylon is a thermoplastic. Nylon is one of the most important synthetic polymers. About 4 million tons a year are produced worldwide. Most nylon is made into fibers for ropes, clothing, and for reinforcing tyres. Nylon is made from 2 monomers. Adipic acid or hexanedioic acid has a chain of six carbon atoms. Hexamethylene diamine, or diaminohexane, also has a chain of six carbon atoms. When the two monomers react together, a molecule of water is produced as each link is formed. These two monomers continue to link together to form long chains called nylon. The raw materials used to make the two monomers are cyclohexane and adiponitrile. These are both derived from crude oil. Cyclohexane is oxidized, first by air and then by nitric acid, to give adipic acid. Adiponitrile is hydrogenated to give hexamethylenediamine. The two monomers first react to form salt. Heating the salt to drive out water produces nylon. When the white nylon is pro...