Synthetic Fiber Carpet

Nylon

The fiber nylon was introduced first by the DuPont

Chemical Company in 1938. Several years later, after

a great deal of development, nylon became the first

synthetic fiber to be used in the entire carpeting

industry.

The first 3 generations of fiber experienced many

problems with the worst being staining. The 4th

generation fiber of nylon had a mill applied coating

that solved a majority of the staining problems. The

ability of the fiber to repel water and oil based

spills as well as soil helped to propel nylon into

the top selling carpet fibers out there.

After several other changes, the DuPont company

introduced the fifth generation nylon fiber. This

stain resistant fiber would repel most dye stains

if treated in a reasonable time. This fiber is

more accurately called an acid dye blocker in that

it doesn't allow acid dyes to penetrate and stain

the fiber.

The protective coating mill is applied and fills the

dye sites with anionic molecules.

Tip

An easy way to test fiber for the presence of a

fluorochemical is to cut a couple of fibers from a

non traffic area and apply a few drops of oil and

water mixture. If it beads up, then there is an

active fluorochemical present.

Whenever testing for the presence of the acid dye

blocker, you should again cut a couple of fibers

from a non traffic area, then immerse the fibers

in a red kool-aid mixture and wait for 5 minutes

or so. Remove the fiber from the liquid and

flush with neutral detergent solution. If the

acid blockers are present and active, there will

be no discoloration.

Polyester

The fiber of polyester was first introduced into

the garment industry around in the 1950s. By the

late 1960s, polyester was introduced into the

carpet industry as a face yarn. In hand, feel,

and appearance it is similar to nylon, although

it doesn't possess that same resiliency.

Polyester doesn't absorb water based spills, isn't

affected by urine or kool-aid, but it will

absorb oil based spills. Polyester is non allergenic

and mildew resistant.

Acrylic/modacrylic

Both of these fibers were first used as carpet

yarns around the late 1940s. They disappeared

around 1988 due to the competition from other fibers.

In was reintroduced to the market around 1990

in Berber styling.

This was done so that people could take advantage

of the wool like appearance, hand feel, and the

fact that its more spot resistant, much easier to

clean, and not damaged in the ways that wool is.

Olefin

Olefin is the latest of the synthetic fibers to

be adopted to carpets. Once only available in

continous filament, it is now produced in staple

form as well. Olefin has a wide variety of uses

that include primary and secondary backing of

tufted carpets, warp yarns, and other uses as well.

Types of Carpet

The carpet market is a vast market, with many types

to choose from. Below, you'll find the several

different types of carpet and what they will offer

you and your home.

Woven

Woven carpet is produced on a loom that is very

similar to woven cloth, being cut pile. There

are many different colored yarns being used and the

entire process is capable of producing very intricate

patterns from designs that are pre-determined.

Normally, woven is the highest quality of carpet

on the market.

Tufted

This type of carpet is produced on a tufting machine

by using either a single colored or sometimes a

non colored yarn. If non colored is being used,

then the carpet will be dyed or printed with a

design as a separate process. Carpets that are

tufted can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a

combination of both. Machines can produce a lot

more meters of carpet than weaving, and they are

normally at the lower end of the market.

Needlefelt

The needlefelt type of carpet is a bit more

technologically advanced. They are produced by

electrostatic attraction of individual fibers

that form a unique carpet with extremely high

durability. You can normally find needlefelt

carpet in the contract market such as in hotels

or other places where there is always going to be

a lot of traffic.

Flatweave

The flatweave carpet is created by interlocking

warp and weft threads. The types of oriental

flatwoven carpet include soumak, plain weave,

and tapestry weave. This type is not well known

in the North American region, although it is

very popular in the orient and Japan.

Hooked rug

This is a simple construction of rug that is

handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as

wool or cotton through the meshes of a very

sturdy fabric. Now, this type of rug is generally

known as a handicraft.

Knotted pile

With knotted pile carpets, the structural weft

threads will alternate with a supplementary

weft that will rise from the surface of the

weave at a perpendicular angle.

Cut and loop piles

The cut and loop pile combines both looped and

cut fibers. They provide a variety of

surface textures for medium durability. Cut

and loop carpets are available in either solid

or different colors. The several different layers

in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints in

formal and informal areas.

Saxony

Saxony consists of tightly twisted cut piles

that are heat set straight. They consist of

two or more fibers that have been twisted

together in a yarn, and they provide a very

soft texture for informal as well as formal

areas. They will show each and every footprint

and even marks from vacuum cleaners.

Textured saxony

Textured carpet is the best selling and it

works well in informal areas due to the very

soft feel. They are tightly twisted and

texture headset for medium durability. They

also offer a multi colored look that will

hide tracks and footprints.

Plush/velvet

Both plush and velvet are lightly twisted and

offer a uniform color. They are very soft

and offer more level than textures. This type

of carpet is ideal for formal areas due to

it's luxurious appearance.

Frieze

Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile type of

carpet that is suited for high traffic areas.

It has short fibers that will tend to curl

in different directions at the surface to

hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level loop pile

The level loop pile is constructed by weaving

even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both

ends. This type of carpet is durable as

well as track resistant, due to the strong

loops. Higher loops in the carpet will create

a more luxurious look. They are also great

because they will prevent dirt from filtering

Todays Carpet Trends

Going beyond beige

Long ago, when the choices of carpet were limited

to basic beige, the designers tended to treat it

more often than not as a neutral background for

rooms. These days, with numerous patterns, textures,

and colors to choose from, the carpet is quickly

emerging as the focal point in many interior

designs.

Although you may think the need for neutral carpet

has faded away, it hasn't, as Berber is still an

excellent choice. Unlike the plain choices of the

early 1990s, the versions of today offer more

pattern and texture. Even the traditional types

of Berber carpet offer more visual interest with

more extreme differences in pile being cut thicker,

with deeper loop textures.

Color being sprinkled against a neutral background

will add interest and dimension while helping to

mask spots and spills. The flecks of color are

now appearing against tan, beige, and cream type

backgrounds as well as in other neutrals as well.

Colors and textures

The major shift in new products is going towards

layered color and softer texture in carpet. The

combination of pattern and texture will always

be a popular choice simply because it minimizes

soil and vacuum marks. The other advantage here

is that the color and texture offer a more

distinct styling and plenty of fashion appeal

as well.

The new products are rapidly changing the

perception of carpet as not only being a

background to showcase other furnishings to

the possibility that the carpet can become a

focus for design as well.

Construction

The new manufacturing capabilities have produced

several new looks with carpets that are constructed

with cut and loop yarns. Some examples include

bows, swirls, lattices, plaids, pin dots, and

several others.

By taking advantage of these choices, you can add

a great deal of interest to the room and in

sequence with the florals, stripes, and other

patterns on windows and furniture. The carpet

pattern and texture will also increase the

perception of quality and value in the carpet,

and will add a much broader element to the

surroundings as well.

These days, carpets can do more than just protect

your sub floor. They can add a new level of

comfort and warmth to your home, with literally

thousands of choices available. Carpet is

easier than ever to clean as well, making it

more than worth worthy of being in your home.

With several different trends and new and exciting

colors to choose from, the carpets of today

can make your house come alive. The carpets

will add new meaning to your rooms, making you

appreciate your home even more. If you have

older carpet in your home now, you shouldn't

wait another minute to upgrade. Once you take

a look at all of the choices you have, you'll

want to get that new carpet in now - as your

floor with want to thank you as well!

Steam Carpet Cleaning

The process of steam cleaning your carpet involves

hot water being fed to a spray extraction tool or

wand, coupled to a pump vacuum power unit. The

cleaning solution is injected under pressure deep

into the carpet through water jet nozzles.

The water will then penetrate the fiber all the way

down to the backing. This action will loosen any

embedded soil, remove oil and grease deposits, and

get your carpet cleaner than it has ever been.

There are many types and makes of steam carpet

cleaners available on the market, ranging from small

portables to the large and very powerful truck

mounted units. The principle is the same no matter

what model you pick.

The models that are truck mounted are designed so

that only the hose and the wand are taken into the

area being cleaned. These units are very powerful,

delivering hot water and generating a high vacuum

recovery that can be powered by diesel fuel, gas,

propane, or even by the motor of the truck.

Most carpet manufacturers, fiber producers, and

professional cleaners endorse this process for

achieving soil removal efficiency. With the present

state of art equipment and technology, we are more

than capable of high production and cleaning of

carpet.

The real disadvantage to steam carpet cleaning are

the problems that are associated with over wetting

and longer drying times. These can be eliminated

however, by a skilled operator who uses equipment

that is well maintained and in good overall

operating condition.

Currently, there are two methods being used with

steam carpet cleaning.

1. This method involves a traffic

lane cleaner being sprayed onto the traffic lanes

and then agitated into the fibers. The entire

area is then cleaned by using a hot water extractor

that has a cleaning solution being injected into

the fibers through the wand.

2. The second method involves a free

rinse emulsifying pre-spray being sprayed onto the

entire carpet, then agitated into the fibers.

Steam cleaning procedures

1. Prepare the equipment and supplies. In

a pump or power sprayer you should mix the free

rinsing pre-spray. In the solution tank of the

extractor, mix the rinsing agent.

2. If you have a lot of furniture to move,

make yourself a floor plan.

3. If the area being cleaned has furniture,

you should remove as much as possible.

4. Thoroughly vacuum the carpet. If the

pile is crushed or matted, use a pile brush to

loosen the soils which will make vacuuming more

effective.

5. Pre-spray a good amount of the pre-spray.

6. Using a grooming tool, agitate the pre

spray deep into the fibers then let it sit for 10 -

15 minutes, making sure that it doesn't dry out.

7. Extract the area using a portable, truck

mounted, or automatic carpet cleaner.

8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 until the

entire area has been cleaned.

9. Groom the cleaned area, replace all

furniture that was removed, then clean all equipment