Carpet Manufacturing Research Articles

The Effect of Body Coverings on the Formation of Adipocere in an Aqueous Environment

Adipocere is a postmortem decomposition product that consists of a mixture of fatty acids. The rate of formation of adipocere from pig adipose tissue in an aqueous environment has been monitored. The effect of various clothing and carpet material types on the process was investigated. The fatty acid composition of the adipocere was determined at regular intervals using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Examination of the changes to fatty acid concentrations allowed the degree of adipocere formation in the different environments to be estimated. The study demonstrated that the rate at which adipocere forms is particularly accelerated by the presence of coverings produced from natural materials. Elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry revealed, for the most part, little change to the cations present in the adipocere formed. However, an increase in Ca concentration was observed for tissue wrapped in acrylic carpet, which was associated with a CaCO(3) additive used in the carpet manufacture.

Utilization of natural and cultural resources of Dikili (Izmir) for tourism

Agriculture, fishing, greenhousing, carpet manufacturing, granite stone engraving and tourism are the primary sources of income in Dikili, Izmir. Tourism started to develop in the region since the 1980s and recently, coastal tourism and domestic tourism have gained importance.The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that beside coasts where coastal tourism takes place, Dikili, has natural and cultural sources required for development of thermal tourism and rural tourism/ecotourism. Additionally, presenting these sources give way to provide numerous opportunities as a power, is complement aim.The presence of high-flow geothermal water sources in Kaynarca and Ilıca districts in Dikili provides opportunities for heating houses and performing greenhousing in the districts, however Nebiler, Bademli, Kocaoba, French hot springs and etc. offer a great potential for the development of thermal tourism. The land allocations for the establishment of two facilities in Dikili indicate that the region will soon be mentioned with thermal tourism.Except for the Aegean Sea and geothermal waters, the mountains, mountain pastures, islands, lakes, waterfalls, caves, forests, monumental trees, natural medicinal plants, wild animals and scenic beauties indicate how rich natural geography Dikili has. Local economic products (olive, olive oil, marine products, Yagcıbedir carpets and etc.), ancient cities, rock tombs and ruins of castles as well as villages display the diversity of cultural sources in the region. These all sources mean great attractions for rural tourism/ecotourism and the only shortcoming is that these products have not been branded or turned into touristic products yet. In this sense, the design of tracking paths, the establishment of shopping stands and the opening of some restaurants in some villages are primarly steps and touristic products to launch tourism.Finally in the study, SWOT analysis is made and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Dikili in terms of thermal tourism and rural tourism/ecotourism are suggested.The paper has been written in the field of tourism geography and prepared after data collection, geographical observations, analysis and synthesis.

Evaluation of the wear label description in carpets by using local binary pattern techniques

Carpet manufacturers certify their products for end-use applications by evaluating the wear behavior of their carpets in mechanical experiments. Currently, this process is performed by visual inspection, suffering from subjective gathers that limit reliability. To automate this process, we propose the use of image processing techniques, specifically of local binary pattern (LBP) statistics. Such statistics are tolerant against illumination changes, can be easily implemented, and perform well when combined with a symmetrized adaptation of the Kullback—Leibler divergence. As a main innovation, we extend the existing rotationally invariant LBPs by including ‘mirror’ and ‘complement’ invariants. We show an accurately improved and more reliable estimation of the degree of wear in worn carpets. The evaluation is performed on four digital reference scales, each containing eight pairs of images comparing transitional degrees of wear to the original appearance. Additionally, the texture changes due to distortions of the pile yarn tufts are enhanced by choosing a suitable scale factor per reference. We validate the findings using six physical reference scales, each containing four pairs of images. In both references, linear correlations of over 0.89 are demonstrated between the degrees of wear and extracted features from the images. These findings justify the use of the proposed LBP extensions in a first approach towards an automated low-cost inspection system for carpet wear at low computation cost.

Implementing a data mining solution for enhancing carpet manufacturing productivity

In recent years, knowledge has received significant attention in manufacturing to built a competitive advantage in the sector. Knowledge induction from data is an important issue in manufacturing to find the failure of the process then predict and improve the future system performance. This research examines the improvement of manufacturing process via data mining. Not only do we detect and isolate machine breakdowns in carpet manufacturing, but also we propose a C4.5 decision tree model. In addition, we use attribute relevance analysis to select the qualitative attribute’s variables. Consequently, manufacturing process is redeveloped.

Personal and global economies: Male carpet manufacturers as entrepreneurs in the weaving neighborhoods of Konya, Turkey

ABSTRACTSituating the Turkish carpet‐weaving industry within the historical and political context of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), this study concentrates on male carpet manufacturers in Konya, Turkey. It explores how their divergent and at times awkward articulations of successful entrepreneurship affect and are affected by local labor conditions and relationships. The efforts of carpet manufacturers to achieve entrepreneurial flexibility have both liberating and constraining effects, demonstrating that the meanings and practices some researchers ascribe to the market economy and flexibility cannot be understood if disengaged from the particulars of culture.

Estudos sobre a toxicologia da ε-caprolactama

A ε-caprolactama (CAP) é um monômero precursor de polímeros denominados nylon 6. Esses polímeros destinam-se à produção de tapetes, vestuário e materiais plásticos tais como equipamentos, sistemas e componentes automotivos, conectores, além de embalagens plásticas. Resíduos de CAP podem migrar de embalagens plásticas de nylon 6 para os alimentos. Diante disso, foi de interesse realizar uma revisão dos efeitos relativos à exposição à CAP e o seu impacto sobre a saúde humana. Estudos epidemiológicos indicam a possibilidade da CAP causar inflamações oculares e cutâneas, além de irritações no sistema respiratório. Pode ocorrer ainda hipotensão, taquicardia, palpitações, rinorréia, ressecamento nasal, efeitos geniturinários e sobre a reprodução como distúrbios nas funções menstrual e ovariana, e complicações no parto; além de problemas neurológicos e hematológicos. Estudos com animais são consistentes com tais relatos. Os estudos de genotoxicidade in vitro e in vivo por via oral e intraperitoneal mostram em sua grande maioria, resultados negativos, bem como ausência de efeitos carcinogênicos em ratos e camundongos e sobre o desenvolvimento e reprodução em ratos e coelhos.

Concentrations and patterns of perfluoroalkyl acids in Georgia, USA surface waters near and distant to a major use source

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are widespread contaminants emanating from, among other sources, the production/degradation of fluorinated chemicals used in surface repellant applications, such as carpet manufacturing. The goal of the present study was to assess the concentrations of PFAAs, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA), and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA), in surface waters both near a wastewater land application system (LAS) in Dalton (GA, USA), home to North America's largest carpet manufacturing site, and distant to this location (Altamaha River, GA, USA) to understand the fate of PFAAs in freshwater. Levels of PFAAs were high in the Conasauga River (GA, USA) downstream of the LAS (PFOA, 253-1,150 ng/L; PFOS, 192-318 ng/L; PFNA, 202-369 ng/L; PFDA, 30.1-113 ng/L; PFUA, 58.0-99.2 ng/L; PFOSA, 162-283 ng/L) and in streams and ponds in Dalton (PFOA, 49.9-299 ng/L; PFOS, 15.8-120 ng/L), and were among the highest measured at a nonspill or direct-release location. Perfluoroalkyl acids in the Altamaha River were much lower (PFOA, 3.0-3.1 ng/L; PFOS, 2.6-2.7 ng/L), but were a source of PFAAs to Georgia's estuaries. A preliminary hazard assessment indicated that concentrations of PFOS at two sites in the Conasauga River exceeded the threshold effect predicted for birds consuming aquatic organisms that are exposed continuously to the PFOS levels at these sites. Assuming that toxicity for all PFAAs quantified is equal to that of PFOS, the sum total PFAAs at two sites within the Conasauga River exceeded PFOS thresholds for aquatic and avian species, warranting additional research.

Exploiting the North-South Differential: Corporate Power, Southern Politics, and the Decline of Organized Labor after World War II

In October 1945 the Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company, one of the leading car pet manufacturers the United States and the largest employer Yonkers, New York, marked its hundredth year. At a gala celebration sponsored by the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, the company's first vice president, William F. C. Bill Ewing, shared his vision for the postwar future. Ewing called for greater federal support for business since, as he put it, in the last 10 or 12 years, Government has been deliberately unfriendly business. He also expressed concern about labor's demands; without federal tariff protection, he cautioned, high wages would prevent successful competition. Ewing re minded the audience that his great-grandfather, Alexander Smith, had relocated Yon kers eighty years earlier to escape deliberate sabotage and find a friendly atmosphere. He found it and prospered. Ewing alluded Smith's move Yonkers 1864 after his first factory, established 1845, burned down; the fire may have been set by employ ees incensed by Smith's introduction of the power loom. Ewing's remarks undoubtedly struck a chord with the city's business leaders, who understood that if postwar conditions proved undesirable, the company could move again.1 Five years later Ewing, now company president, followed his ancestor's lead. In August 1950 he and several Smith colleagues traveled Greenville, Mississippi, a small com munity nestled the heart of the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, where they met with civic leaders eager attract northern firms. The two groups quickly solidified arrangements construct a new carpet mill. By early 1953 Greenville Mills was up and running; by June 1954, it had 450 employees and company officials were ready abandon the northern operation. On June 24, during a strike by Yonkers members of the Textile Workers Union of America (twua), Smith managers announced that it had become economically im possible continue running the Yonkers plant. In the coming months, they closed the

Comportamento à compressão de argamassas reforçadas com fibras vegetais da Amazônia

A busca por materiais alternativos que possam substituir as fibras de amianto, compondo o fibrocimento, tem-se tornado objeto de estudos recorrentes. As fibras vegetais surgem como opção econômica, salubre e ecologicamente adequada. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar o comportamento da adição da fibra de curauá em compósitos cimentícios, visando a substituir o amianto. Essa fibra mineral é bastante conhecida pelos danos que provoca à saúde humana, já tendo sido banida em muitos países industrializados. Desde 1979, o Grupo de Pesquisas em Materiais não Convencionais da PUC-Rio tem desenvolvido trabalhos sobre a aplicação das fibras vegetais, disponíveis em abundância no Brasil, na fabricação de componentes para a construção civil, visando, principalmente, à produção de habitação popular. A fibra de curauá é de uso popular, na região conhecida como Baixo-Amazonas, oeste do Estado do Pará, na manufatura de cordas, cestas e tapetes, já existindo os primeiros plantios em escala comercial. Pouco conhecida nas demais regiões do país, a fibra de curauá ainda carece de estudos específicos sobre suas propriedades físicas, químicas e mecânicas, que possibilitem sua aplicação segura em compósitos para a construção civil. Nesse artigo, foi estudado o comportamento em compressão de argamassas reforçadas com fibras de curauá. Buscou-se comparar o desempenho das fibras de curauá e de seus compósitos, com as fibras e compósitos de amianto e de outras fibras vegetais, tais como sisal e juta. Para os compósitos cimentícios com reforços de juta e de sisal, foram obtidos dados através de ensaios realizados no escopo desse trabalho. Os resultados mostraram que a fibra de curauá possui características físicas e mecânicas que a habilitam à aplicação como reforço de matrizes cimentícias, principalmente quando for almejada uma maior ductilidade e uma maior capacidade de resistência após a fissuração da matriz.

An application of fashion cycle methodology to change in residential floor coverings, 1950–2000

Established research methods for investigating stylistic change were applied to a consumer product category outside the arena of clothing or personal appearance. Residential carpet sales expanded in the United States with the post-1945 growth of tufted carpet manufacturing, but by the 1990s, as consumers and builders made other floor covering choices, carpet sales were suffering. Quantitative content analysis of 1033 pictures in two consumer interior decorating magazines counted depictions (within room types) of single and combined floor covering surfaces (wall-to-wall carpeting, room-sized and area rugs, and wood, ceramic/stone and vinyl floors), as well as visual carpet structures (average cut pile, shag, loop, and sculptured) and colour-differentiated patterns (no pattern, shaded pattern, and pronounced pattern). Graphed results presented some visual patterning that reflected accepted definitions of inclining and declining trends, normal (bell-shaped curve) fashion cycles, and classic (flattened curve) fashions. Significant correlation statistics suggested cycling in structural appearance categories, and colour-differentiated categories.

Respirometric assessment of biodegradation for acrylic fibre-based carpet finishing wastewaters

The paper evaluates biodegradation characteristics of wastewaters generated from acrylic fibre-based carpet processing and manufacturing. It involves detailed characterisation, respirometric modelling and kinetic description of dyeing and softening wastewater streams and the composite effluent. The wastewaters exhibit different COD content and fractionation. The resulting composite effluent has a total COD of 775 mgL(-1), predominantly soluble and with a biodegradable fraction of 86%. In respirometric studies, the OUR profiles can only be calibrated with a dual hydrolysis model with rates significantly slower compared to domestic sewage and other textile plant effluents. Kinetic information derived from the experiments is applied for the conceptual evaluation of the treatability of the composite wastewater using two different continuous-flow activated sludge configurations.

Guest Editorial: Climate Change: Healthy Solutions

Guest Editorial: Climate Change: Healthy Solutions

Axminster carpet manufacture in Edinburgh in the mid-18th century

Hand-knotted carpets in the Turkey and Persia styles became fashionable in the 1750s when weavers from the Royal Savonnerie Carpet Manufactory at Chaillot near Paris settled in London. An English manufactory developed in Exeter under Claude Passavant, in Axminster under Thomas Whitty and in London under Thomas Moore. These carpets subsequently became known generically as ‘Axminster’ carpets after the fame of Whitty’s manufactory spread. Recent research has revealed that a French carpet weaver came to Scotland in the mid-18th century and established an Axminster manufactory in Edinburgh and Fife. Local merchants and upholsterers also took up the business. None of their carpets have so far come to light, but we are able to trace the origins and progress of this early stage in the carpet manufacture from the historical records.

Electrostatic Application of Carpet Yarn Spin Finishes as a Strategy for Reducing Environmental Water Pollution: Theoretical Basis

High-speed processing of yarns into carpet and textile consumer products generally requires application of friction-reducing coatings onto the fibers. Such coatings, often totaling up to 1 1/2 - 2 wt% as applied both by the original fiber manufacturer and additionally by the final product manufacturer, facilitate trouble-free movement of the fibers across surfaces and through guides associated with weaving and other manufacturing operations. These yarn spin finishes unfortunately present significant air- and water-pollution concerns in the final stages of production. Their volatilization during heat-setting of yarns generates appreciable emission of VOC air pollutants in both the ambient and the workplace atmospheres. Their removal by product-washing operations results in spin finishes typically contributing up to 60-70% of the COD pollution load of wastewater effluents from carpet manufacturing plants. Due primarily to lack of uniformity of the fiber coating achieved by conventional application methods, excess spin finish is routinely dispensed at the time of spinning polymeric fibers to ensure satisfactory performance. Furthermore, it is topically applied to the peripheral surface of the coalesced fiber bundle and not more effectively onto the individual filaments, which comprise the bundle as they issue from the spinnerets; typically 60-120 such filaments are brought together to comprise one fiber threadline. This paper reports the theoretical basis of an electrostatics-based process and engineering prototype for the precharging of high-speed dielectric-filament arrays, the electrohydrodynamic spray application of charged spin finish thereon, and the net charge balance/neutralization of such coated fibers. Prototype evaluations on-line at a full-scale 15 m/s polymeric-fiber production unit will subsequently be presented.

Utilization of waste fibers in stone matrix asphalt mixtures

Waste fibers produced from manufacturing processes such as scrap tire processing and automotive carpet manufacturing are sometimes used in other applications, but commonly are disposed of in landfills. If these fibers could be beneficially utilized in any application, it would reduce the load on the nation’s landfills. Also, since these are waste materials, the cost of using these fibers compared to fibers manufactured for a specific application could be considerably less. The major objective of this research was to determine the feasibility of utilizing waste tire and carpet fibers in stone matrix asphalt (SMA). Many states utilize such rut resistant SMA mixtures on heavily traveled highways. Fibers are included in SMA mixtures as a stabilizing additive to prevent excessive draindown caused by relatively high contents of polymer modified asphalt binder. The common types of fiber used in SMA include cellulose and mineral fibers. This study compared the performance of SMA mixtures containing waste tire and carpet fibers with mixes made with commonly used cellulose and other polyester fibers produced specifically for use in hot mix asphalt (HMA). No significant difference in permanent deformation or moisture susceptibility was found in mixtures containing waste fibers compared to cellulose or polyester. Also, the tire, carpet, and polyester fibers significantly improved the toughness of the mixtures compared to the cellulose fibers.

Occupation and bladder cancer among men in Western Europe.

We examined which occupations and industries are currently at high risk for bladder cancer in men. We combined data from 11 case-control studies conducted between 1976-1996 in six European countries. The study comprised 3346 incident cases and 6840 controls, aged 30-79 years. Lifetime occupational and smoking histories were examined using common coding. Odds ratios for eight a priori defined high-risk occupations were low, and with the exception of metal workers and machinists (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.02-1.32), were not statistically significant. Higher risks were observed for specific categories of painters, metal, textile and electrical workers, for miners, transport operators, excavating-machine operators, and also for non-industrial workers such as concierges and janitors. Industries entailing a high risk included salt mining, manufacture of carpets, paints, plastics and industrial chemicals. An increased risk was found for exposure to PAHs (OR for highest exposure tertile = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.07-1.4). The risk attributable to occupation ranged from 4.2 to 7.4%, with an estimated 4.3% for exposure to PAHs. Metal workers, machinists, transport equipment operators and miners are among the major occupations contributing to occupational bladder cancer in men in Western Europe. In this population one in 10 to one in 20 cancers of the bladder can be attributed to occupation.

Evaluation of the realistic effect of image compositing to assist in curtain selection

The research proposes the image compositing approach to assist in curtain selection and explores in depth the factors that influence the effect of curtain image compositing. Realistic effects were assessed by analysis of the subjective evaluations of furnishing professionals after exposure to various combinations of factor levels shown on a computer monitor. Results show that grayscale contrast, texture pattern and texture opacity are significant factors and that there are no interactions among the factors which affect the realistic effect. Furthermore, the optimum overall realistic effect with a score of 0.95 is the combination of 60% grayscale contrast with small texture pattern and 60% texture opacity. The result implies that the image compositing approach is an effective method to assist in curtain selection and greatly facilitates manufacturer communication with consumers. In addition, the overall realistic effect can also be derived from a regression model on texture realistic effect, light/darkness realistic effect and hue realistic effect. Relevance to industry The proposed image compositing approach can be extended to industries related to furnishing such as wallpaper, carpet, floor tiling and furniture manufacturers to improve the efficiency of the traditional selection process, minimize communication time with consumers, promote sales, and enhance the degree of satisfaction for both consumers and manufacturers.

Asexual genetic variability in Agave fourcroydes

Henequen, Agave fourcroydes Lem, is a plant whose fiber is employed in the manufacture of agricultural twine, sacks, carpets and other products. It is a pentaploid (5×) with a long life cycle of up to 20 years that flower only once towards the end of its life and does not produce viable seeds. Since it is asexually propagated through the production of rhizomes, it would be expected that henequen populations are genetically homogenous. However, an analysis with molecular markers, using amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), demonstrates differences in AFLP pattern in a natural population, while this pattern is conserved in samples from the same plant. An analysis of five different plantations showed differences at the population level, with each population clustering together. The comparison of the AFLP banding pattern between two mother plants with their derived suckers shows that in this species genetic variability is generated and transmitted to descendants through asexual reproduction. Consequently, it is possible to select among individuals in a clonal population for the improvement of henequen.

Carpet Capital: The Rise of a New South Industry

After World War II, the carpet industry came to be identified with the Dalton region of northwest Georgia. Here, entrepreneurs hit upon a new technology called tufting, which enabled them to take control of this important segment of America's textile industry, previously dominated by woven-wool carpet manufacturers in the Northeast. Dalton now dominates carpet production in the United States, manufacturing 70 percent of the domestic product, and prides itself as the carpet capital of the world. Carpet Capital is a story of revolutionary changes that transformed both an industry and a region. Its balanced and candid account details the rise of a homegrown southern industry and entrepreneurial capitalism at a time when other southern state and local governments sought to attract capital and technology from outside the region. The book summarizes the development of the American carpet industry from the early nineteenth century through the 1930s. In describing the tufted carpet boom, it focuses on Barwick Mills, Galaxy Mills, and Shaw Industries as representative of various phases in the industry's history. It tells how owners coordinated efforts to keep carpet mills unorganized, despite efforts of the Textile Workers Union of America, by promoting a vision of the future based on individual ambition rather than collective security. Randall L. Patton and David B. Parker show that Dalton has evolved in much the same way as California's Silicon Valley, experiencing both a rapid expansion of new firms started by entrepreneurs who had apprenticed in older firms and an air of cooperation both among owners and between mills and local government. Their close examination of this industryprovides important insights for scholars and business leaders alike, enhancing our appreciation of entrepreneurial achievement and broadening our understanding of economic growth in the modern South.

Measuring Nylon Carpet Yarn Heat History by Remote NIR Spectroscopy

Heat setting of nylon carpet yarns is one of the most critical processes in carpet manufacturing. The temperature at which the yarn is heat set—the heat-set temperature (HST)—is one of the most important operational variables in the process. Previous investigations with laboratory, bench-top, near infrared (NIR) reflectance instrumentation had shown NIR to be a simple, rapid, and accurate laboratory technique for measuring the HST of nylon carpet yams. The potential of NIR for measuring the HST/heat history of nylon carpet yarns directly on the carpet yarn bobbin and in the manufacturing area is evaluated in a two-phase program. In this paper, Phase One—the evaluation of remote fiber optic sampling systems and the development of a laboratory measurement of HST/heat history directly on the bobbin—is presented and discussed. Nylon 66 yams are heat set by both the Suessen and Superba methods over wide HST ranges. NIR calibrations for HST are developed and validated with two remote fiber optic sampling systems—an interactance probe ("Probe") and a remote reflectance head ("Head"). Excellent agreement is obtained between the stated Suessen and Superba HSTs and the NIR results for both fiber optic sampling systems, with high R2 values (normally >0.9) and low residuals (standard deviation of differences, SDD) of normally <3° for both systems on both heat-set methods. The Probe sampling system is the best overall system for at-line measurements, with low sampling system weight, simpler operation, faster analysis time, and increased flexibility. The Head sampling system is the best overall system for on-line measurements, where its superior accuracy can be optimized.