Carpet Research Articles

Barriers to the implementation of the UNIDO’s program for export consortia: a case study of the Iranian handmade carpet industry

PurposeThis paper aims to identify and analyze the barriers to the implementation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s programxk for export consortia in the Iranian handmade carpet industry.Design/methodology/approachTo accomplish its objectives, the study relied on a mixed (qualitative and quantitative) research method. Primarily, unstructured interviews were conducted to identify the effective barriers. Then, the validity of the barriers identified was evaluated through content validity ratio analysis. Finally, the interrelationships between the barriers were determined using the rough decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory technique (DEMATEL).FindingsResults revealed that “a lack of leadership,” “a traditional business environment” and “a lack of awareness of consortium benefits” were the most significant causal barriers. Meanwhile, the most important effect barriers were “a lack of long-term vision,” “a lack of business ethics” and “a lack of motivation.”Practical implicationsThe findings and results could help the stakeholders of the handmade carpet industry in Iran to improve existing export consortium programs, increasing the country’s share in the global markets in this industry.Originality/valueThis investigation seeks to fill an existing gap in the literature on export consortium formation in the handmade carpet industry by providing a network of barriers for the first time.

Study on fibre reinforced composites developed by using recycled fibres from garment cut waste

PurposeRecycled fibres used as reinforcements are obtained from garment cut wastes of cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester fabrics to develop these composites. These composites are developed by using Epoxy resin, Kaolinite, Polypropylene sheet as matrices. Reinforcements and matrices have been used in different compositions and combinations to develop these composites. The main advantages of this type of composites are to combine the different properties of different materials to obtain unique and high-performance material.Design/methodology/approachGarment cut wastes from apparel industries are used for various applications in various industries. Normally, garment cut wastes and recycled fibres from garment cut wastes are used in textile, furniture, carpet, paper, automobile, construction and agricultural industries in low mechanical performance applications. In this research, composites are developed by using recycled fibres obtained from garment cut wastes as reinforcement and with different types of matrices.FindingsTechnical properties like thickness, mass per unit area, Tensile strength, Flexural strength, Impact strength, Water absorbency and Scanning Electron Microscope of developed composites were tested and analyzed. The outcome of the results demonstrates that many of the composite proportions with different blend, reinforcement and matrcies show superior mechanical performances when compared with each other, and it can be recommended for many potential applications.Originality/valueThe properties of composites are dependent on the different blend proportions of recycled fibres with reinforcement and matrices. Based on the result of tensile strength, polyester/cotton fibre reinforced composites show superior strength compared to other recycled fibre reinforced samples and it can be suitably tailored further by appropriate design of different lay-up angle and orientation with the number of different preformed layers of reinforcements to suit the intended applications.

Critical Materials Determination as a Complement to the Product Recycling Desirability Model for Sustainability in Malaysia

End-of-life waste disposal is a major issue in Malaysia, where the country’s economy has suffered due to waste recovery issues. Many countries have successfully identified critical materials and products for increasing recycling rates, but not in Malaysia. Thus, the Malaysian government and businesses have had difficulty prioritising products for recycling. The absence of critical materials data has meant that a recovery strategy could not be planned wisely. In addition, the Product Recycling Desirability Model that was utilised by many countries to improve their recycling strategy could not be applied to Malaysia, as it requires critical materials data as input. To start with, Malaysia’s important materials have been identified. Next, two risk dimensions are defined: supply risk and material risk. The indicators are then weighted according to Malaysia’s scenarios. The scores are analyzed and applied to the Product Desirability Model to find desirable products for recycling. As a result, 89 materials were classified as critical to Malaysia’s economy, with palladium, rhodium, gold, platinum, and tellurium ranking first through to fifth. Critical materials scoring was used for the first time in Malaysia to comprehend the Product Recycling Desirability Model, a tool for prioritizing products for recycling. Additional analysis reveals that car batteries, tyres, PET bottles, mobile phones, and DVD-R are the top five most important recyclable products in Malaysia. With the material security database readily available and the novel evaluation system being employed to prioritize critical material supply, using risk supply and material security for Malaysia, the government, or private sector, can strategically start to implement recycling policies and initiatives to strengthen recycling efforts, which help to increase recycling rates.

Comparison of solo and conventional ring yarns: effects on the compression characteristics of cut-pile carpets

Carpet manufacturers are continuously looking for new approach to improve the characteristics of their produced carpets in terms of appearance and durability. Material and structural parameters have a significant effect on the carpet compression properties. This study deals with characterization of the cut-pile carpets produced with Solospun pile yarns in comparison to Ring spun yarns. To this end, the acrylic pile yarns were produced in same linear density using a semi-worsted Solo- and Ring spinning systems. Both prepared pile yarns were used to produce machine-woven carpets in two different weft densities (1500 and 2000 yarns/m). Compression characteristics of the manufactured carpet samples under compression loading were evaluated. The findings revealed that the hairiness of Solospun yarn decreased by 24% and 41% for 3 and 6 mm hairs, respectively; while the yarn abrasion resistance increased by 39%. The results also revealed that the thickness loss (TL) under long-term static loading was vividly lower for the carpets produced from Solospun yarns, in comparison to Ring spun yarns. The compression characteristics such as compressibility, permanent deformation, compression energy and residual energy of the carpet samples made of the Solospun yarns were less than those made of conventional Ring spun yarns. Finally, using the Solospun yarns as carpet pile leads to higher useful life and pile recovery of the cut-pile carpets. Accordingly, these yarns are recommended to be applied in the carpet industry, instead of the Ring spun pile yarns.

Digital Analysis of the Transformation of Institutions in the Knowledge and Innovation System of the Handmade Carpet Industry

The Indian handmade carpet industry has various economic, social and national dimensions. The rich diversity of Indian carpets is a symbol of different cultures and traditions in this country like India and Iran. To ensure the sustainability of the knowledge digital and innovation system of the handmade carpet industry, in addition to considering the dominant approaches of the innovation systems, attention should be paid to the transformative approach that pursues holistic transformation in the production and consumption systems. The present study aims to identify formal transformation institutions, classify them into main categories and analyse them based on the production step, approval date, institution type and geographical area of approval. Based on the results, there are 316 formal institutions in the handmade carpet industry. By open coding, 372 concepts were extracted from 509 concepts derived from different formal transformation institutions. Based on the axial coding, the formal institutions were divided into six initial categories of ‘carpet authority’, ‘carpet sales and maintenance inside India’, ‘handmade carpet exports and imports’, ‘carpet production infrastructure’, ‘handmade carpet production’ and ‘sanitary-therapeutic category’. At the next step, the matrix of the main categories based on different production steps was drawn. Among the main categories, the highest frequency is related to the category of ‘carpet production infrastructure’ and the subcategory of ‘financial supply of carpet’. Although there are a lot of formal institutions that support production, carpet weavers as the main people involved in production have received minimum support during their working years due to unawareness of supports and loan conditions.

Use of discarded carpet material in the development of polymer (epoxy) composites for structural functions

The solid waste generated through the carpet and textile industry produces pollution and health risks in various forms when discharged into the open space. This study aims to utilize post-consumer discarded carpets for the manufacturing of lightweight polymer composites. The waste generated from the carpet industry has been a matter of serious concern for the environment. The average life of a carpet is approximate 8-9 years. After that becomes a non-biodegradable waste that is hazardous for the environment and occupies large landfill areas. In this context, the carpet waste is used to enhance the structural properties of the polymer (epoxy) composite. The epoxy is modified using waste carpet in two separate configurations: back-fiber-fiber-back (BFFB) and fiber-back- back-fiber (FBBF). A modified Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) has been used to infuse the mixture (epoxy and hardener) into the waste carpet samples. The tensile, compressive, and flexural strength tests of the proposed samples were performed to analyze the mechanical behavior. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) outcomes demonstrate a good bonding strength between the epoxy matrix and filler material fabric (waste carpet). The FBBF configuration has comparatively superior mechanical performance than the BFFB. The mechanical testing results indicate that the developed samples can be satisfactorily used for lightweight structural applications such as sound barriers, wall tiles, desk boards, toys components, decorative product parts, etc. The research demonstrates that polymer composite reinforced by carpet waste can be endorsed as an acceptable and cost-effective replacement of structural polymer components. Also, the proposed method is remarked as a feasible solution to utilize the waste carpet into end products.

Carpet industry irrigational sources risk assessment: Heavy metal contaminated vegetables and cereal crops in northern India

Wastewater is often discharged to natural water bodies through an open channel as well as used by marginal farmers to irrigate the agricultural fields, particularly in sub-urban areas of developing countries. In the present study, the samples of irrigation water, soil, vegetables (i.e., palak; Beta vulgaris L. var All green H1, radish; Raphanus sativus L., garlic; Allium sativum L., cabbage; Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata, brinjal; Solanum melongena L.) and crops (i.e., paddy; Oryza sativa L. and wheat; Triticum aestivum L.) were collected from the agricultural areas receiving untreated wastewater from a carpet industrial and residential areas since a decade. The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the filtrates of water, soil, and crops were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer AAnalyst 800, USA). Daily intake, hazardous quotient and heavy metal pollution index were computed to assess the health risk associated with consumption of heavy metal contaminated crops. The mean concentrations of Cd and Zn in B. vulgaris (5.35 µg g−1 dw and 58.41 µg g−1 dw, respectively) and Cr, Cu, and Ni in grains of T. aestivum (16.02 µg g−1 dw, 27.97 µg g−1 dw and 40.74 µg g−1 dw, respectively) were found highest and had exceeded the Indian safety limit. Daily intake of Cu, Ni, and Cr via consumption of tested cereal crops was found higher than the vegetables. The health quotient revealed that health of local residents is more linked to vegetables than cereal crops. The present findings may be helpful to the policymakers and regulatory authorities to modify the existing policy of wastewater uses in the agriculture and disposal to the natural water bodies. The regular monitoring of heavy metals in the wastewater should also be ensured by the regulatory authorities for their safe disposal to natural water bodies/agriculture in order to reduce the human health risk associated with the degree of heavy metal contaminated suburban food systems.

India's hand-knotted carpet industry in reforms era: export performances and challenges

India's hand-knotted carpet industry in reforms era: export performances and challenges

Labour Process in Informal Sector: A Case Study of Carpet Industry

The Carpet industry is an important informal sector in Kashmir, provides employment opportunities to lakhs of people in the rural and semi-urban areas of Kashmir. The carpet industry has made a significant contribution to production, employment, and export of handicraft products and contributes to economic development. Regardless of generating growth, weavers in carpet industry continue to be locked in the unequal and exploitative labour process. The purpose of the present study is to examine the labour process in the carpet industry with specific focus on organization of production, capital accumulation and wage pattern among carpet weavers in Pulwama district of Kashmir. The present study is both primary and secondary in nature. The primary data collected from four blocks of Pulwama district through interview-schedule, focused group discussion and field observation. The key findings revealed that there is diversity in production relation, weavers are facing with a problem of middlemen/master weaver exploitation, low earning, and long working hours and piece-wage is a mode of surplus extraction for capitalists in the carpet industry.

Designing a Strategic Model for International Marketing of Iranian Handmade Carpets

The purpose of this study is to design a strategic model for international marketing of Iranian handmade carpets - a combined approach. The present study, in terms of its basic applied purpose, in terms of nature, survey research and in terms of paradigm, combined-exploratory research, sampling in the qualitative part of the research was done purposefully and in the quantitative part was done by simple random sampling. In the qualitative stage with 12 experts, who were mainly academic experts in the field of international marketing and senior managers of companies exporting Iranian handmade carpets, the interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved, and the sample of the quantitative section consisted of 196 people selected according to the Cochran's formula and the research tool in the qualitative section has been identified using the exploratory method of strategic components of international marketing of Iranian handmade carpets and the factors affecting it and in a small part it was evaluated through descriptive-survey research. The sampling method in the qualitative part was purposeful and in the quantitative part was simple random. The research tool in the qualitative part of exploratory interview was semi-structured and in a small part, for the strategic evaluation of international marketing of Iranian handmade carpets, a researcher-made questionnaire was used, which was designed based on the themes obtained in the qualitative stage. In the qualitative part, the analysis of the interviews was performed using the content analysis method. The validity and reliability of the components were examined and Cronbach's alpha of all the above components was 0.7 and during it; the most important basic, organizing and comprehensive themes on the components of the factors affecting the international marketing strategy of Iranian handmade carpets were assessed. Quantitatively, through structural equation methods, the accuracy of the research model was confirmed and it turned out that the selection of concepts, dimensions and indicators had a high accuracy in the handmade carpet industry and it can provide a suitable framework for compiling a vision document for the handmade carpet industry.

Economic Effects of Covid-19 on the Indian Carpet Industry

The Indian carpet industry has great potential in the economic development of the nation. This agri-based, unorganized sector employs millions of skilled and unskilled labors and acts as a source for their livelihood. The present study provides an overview of the impact of Covid-19 on the Indian carpet industry, discusses the export performance and vulnerabilities of the workers employed, identify certain export market strategies for the overall prosperity of the carpet industry. The Indian carpet industry has to pay a heavy price in the lockdown and the condition of the carpet industry is still deplorable. The sluggish demand for carpet across developed nations, closure of the production centers followed by phased lockdowns in the country and the migration of skilled labors/weavers added to its woes. The carpet industry is experiencing a tough time and it is evident with an abrupt decline in the export volumes and values of trade. To develop a strategic policy and provide job security to the workers employed in precarious jobs is the need of the hour.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Exiguobacterium profundum isolated from carpet industry effluent

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using microorganisms has received profound interest because of their potential to synthesize nanoparticles of various size, shape and morphology. The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by a bacterial strain, Exiguobacterium profundum with potential dye degrading ability isolated from carpet industry effluent. The strain was tested for its ability to degrade various dyes including Methylene Blue, Malachite Green, Congo Red, Crystal Violet, Coomassie Brilliant Blue, Methyl Red, Sudan Black. Treatment of the bacteria with 1 mM AgNO3, showed its ability to form silver nanoparticles. This was confirmed by visual observation and UV–Vis absorption at 450 nm. Further characterization of nanoparticles by Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the size of silver nanoparticles in 20-40 nm range. Therefore, the present study is a demonstration of an efficient synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles using Exiguobacterium profundum which could be utilized in dye degradation thereby reducing the pollution from industrial effluents.

Performance of Hand Tufted Woollen Carpets

Performance of Hand Tufted Woollen Carpets

A hybrid method for reduction of size and number of hues in the color images used in a carpet map

AbstractThe carpet industry is no longer a small business done in the villages on a small scale; instead, it has carved an altogether different space, identity, and appreciation for itself in the cosmopolitan world. As computers are is becoming more and more ubiquitous, most industries, including the carpet industry, use computers for quality improvement, accuracy enhancement, speed development, and cost reduction purposes. Unlike traditional carpet maps, many modern maps include images of human faces for hand‐woven carpet tableau. These digital images comprise millions of colors and thousands of pixels, making it practically impossible to construct and weave the carpet in the same dimensions. Many weavers currently use manual and experience‐based methods for reducing the size and number of hues for making a hand‐woven carpet tableau map. Therefore, the outcomes are not the optimal results and can be improved. Also, many color reduction methods do not focus on the hand‐woven carpet tableau map. To overcome these problems and gaps, this research focuses on proposing a new automatic method for reducing the size of color images without compromising facial nuances, lessening the number of colors used while protecting the important areas of the images, and transforming those images into carpet tableau maps. The proposed approach inputs the original color image. It continuously detecting the face and specifying important areas, and finally, outputs carpet tableau map that is proportional to the given dimensions and color count. To evaluate the proposed method, MATLAB, as a powerful simulation tool, was employed. Final results are compared to the existing approaches in terms of face detection, size reduction, and color quantization. The obtained results have shown that the approach improves speed by 39% in face detection and increases the precision of size reduction and color quantization phases. The results have also confirmed that when images of human faces are reduced by a proposed method to form an appropriate image for tableau maps, they are nearly always perceived as more attractive than the reduced faces via traditional methods.

Application of Taguchi Approach to Forecast the Wages of Persian Silk Carpet Weavers

One of the remarkable phenomena in recent years is the growing trend of globalization. Iran is also seeking to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) to expand non-oil exports and presence in global markets, and is currently a member of the organization's oversight body. Handmade industries such as hand woven carpet are one of the important trades that can be studied for this purpose. Exports of handmade carpets have fluctuated over different time periods. Despite maintaining its international position as the rank of the largest exporter of handmade carpets, the export position of handmade carpets is decreasing as compared to other Iranian exports. Handmade carpet craftsmanship is a complementary activity of agricultural and rural businesses, but due to the considerable number of workers and the small share of carpet value added in the national economy, it does not have a suitable condition. Other influential parameters such as rivals (e.g., China, India, Pakistan, and Turkey), etc. have caused the economic conditions of this industry to be unstable. In this regard, one of the best and most appropriate ways to compete with other countries is to reduce production costs and, consequently, reduce product prices. This factor includes various variables, including weavers' wages. Unfortunately, there is no definite and elaborate program for determining the wages of handmade silk carpet weavers in Iran according to the standard. In fact, in some cities, the weavers' wages determine based on the texture conditions, texture parameters, economic conditions of the country, and other parameters by carpet wage boards that consist of several carpet experts. In this way, there is the possibility of mistakes and the loss of the rights of weavers or producers due to the entry of personal opinion and the failure to classify the effect of different parameters on the final point. The main purpose of this study is to collect various parameters affecting the wages of handmade carpet we

Sustainable Use of Waste Polypropylene Fibres to Enhance the Abrasion and Skid Resistance of Two-Stage Concrete

Two-stage concrete (TSC), also known as prepacked aggregate concrete (PAC), differs from traditional concrete in terms of site application and manufacturing process. Although this type of concrete is not a replacement for conventional concrete applications, it is an ideal option for unusual and difficult placing conditions, especially for repairing existing concrete structures. In other words, this type of concrete is a newly developed concrete and made by placing and packing coarse aggregates and fibres in a designed formwork, then injecting a cement grout mixture into the free spaces between the aggregate particles using gravity or a pump device. For the mentioned system and others, concrete components used as floors or pavements must have an adequate degree of roughness during service life when exposed to skid and abrasion. Thus, this research work introduced a new concrete method (prepacked aggregates fibre-reinforced concrete—PAFRC) with high abrasion and skid resistance reinforced with waste polypropylene (PP) fibres from the carpet industry. The effects of PP fibres at 0–1% dosages on the mechanical properties, abrasion resistance, and skid resistance of PAFRC mixes were studied. The results revealed that the addition of PP fibres reduces the compressive strength of concrete mixtures. Nonetheless, the presence of PP fibres results in PAFRC mixes having higher tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and skid resistance than plain concrete. It was detected that in both grouting methods (gravity and pump), with the addition of PP fibre up to a specific dosage, the resistance against abrasion and skid was increased by about 26% compared to plain PAC mix. Additionally, the outcomes indicated that PAFRC is a promising material for applications such as pavements with high abrasion and skid resistance.

Beliefs related to the ornaments of felt and woven carpets in the yurts of Kazakh people

For many centuries, Kazakh people inhabited endless steppes and led a nomadic lifestyle. Cattle breeding was the foremost means of their subsistence. They grew camels, horses, cows, sheep, and used their milk, meat, wool and leather. They lived in portable felt accommodations and mastered handicraft necessary for their livelihood.  Felt and woven carpets, the ornaments as well used in these carpets played a significant role among the other types of handicraft. According to scientists, ornaments were applied as a means of communication between people. Kazakh people preserved their language, religion, beliefs and traditions for thousands of years. The ornaments of handicraft products of Kazakh people are particularly classified into four groups; cosmogonic patterns (sun, star, moon), zoomorphic ornaments (animals, birds) considered as totems, floral ornaments (wood, flower, grain), and geometric ornaments (square, rhombus). Additionally, each ornament and the numbers used in these ornaments acquire with the meanings related to totemic symbols, magic and traditions. Therefore, the main purpose of the given work is to reveal the essence of the ornaments of felt and woven carpets related to the beliefs of our ancestors. Key words: felt and woven carpets, ornament, belief, totemism, magic.

An Integrated Approach to Assess Potential and Sustainability of Handmade Carpet Production in Different Areas of the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran

A handmade carpet is one of the most well-known handcrafts around the world. Iranian handmade carpets are known as luxury products in domestic and international markets due to their strength and product value. The main objective of this research is to apply a geographical information system (GIS)-based, spatially-explicit approach to assess the sustainability of handmade carpet production in the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran, which is internationally famous for the diversity and quality of its handmade carpets. To achieve this goal, we employed 23 criteria in four main clusters: population characteristics, education status, employment status, and business activities related to the carpet industry. In order to determine the significance of each criterion, an integrated approach of fuzzy and network analysis processes was applied. Accordingly, the GIS aggregation function was employed to map and identify the areas that are suitable and of high potential for handmade carpet production. The results indicate that there is a very high potential for handmade carpet production in some areas of Tabriz, Osku, Marageh, Heris, and Meyaneh counties. However, high sustainability also extends to some areas in Marand, Bonab, and Kalaybar counties. The obtained maps present the potential of each city and village for handmade carpet production. The research also aims to evaluate and suggest relevant policies and practices to overcome the identified challenges in order to promote, develop, and preserve the handmade carpet sector. The results of this research are of great importance for different stakeholders in the handmade production and for decision makers and authorities in the East Azerbaijan Province. The results can be used to determine the potential of each area for handmade carpet production and to highlight potential challenges. This research also presents a new approach for sustainability assessments in studies on handcrafts and, in particular, carpets.

Research of damage to wool fibers used in the carpet industry

The article discusses the problems of damage during storage, processing and use of wool fibers used in the carpet industry. The role of bacteria and microscopic fungus in fiber damage has been shown. These indicators include: the cost of raw materials and production costs for its processing, elastic properties, ease of processing, profiled cross-section, the bulk, which is achieved due to the large thickness and the method of dyeing. The main criteria for carpets of the third group, i.e. Researchers Negin and Mumford consider the indicators characterizing the average cost of one square meter, taking into account their service life, of carpets supplied for the foreign market.

Traditional Kyrgyz Carpet Weaving Process and Semantics of Related Customs

Research relevance in this article is providing information about the traditional Kyrgyz carpet weaving process and semantics of related customs. Carpet weaving is the most popular form of Kyrgyz traditional handicraft. This craft is mainly seen as a women’s activity. The process of carpet weaving is a combination of involved activities. The history of people’s ethnic culture is deeply connecting with the way of life and the type of economy of certain people. Handicrafts are satisfying aesthetic needs and have a great practical value, as well as reflecting ethnic relations between people. One of the main material value categories in the Kyrgyz people custom is woven carpets and rugs. Recently, carpets and rugs have not lost their practical significance, and in some traditions of Kyrgyz life, carpets and rugs are the main attributes. Therefore, we can say that Kyrgyz carpet weaving is endemic. The main focus in this article was made on semantics of carpet weaving traditional custom in the Kyrgyz culture.