You searched in Glossary Terms for [P]. We found 83 matching entries.
PCB:
polychlorinated biphenyl. PCBs are a group of toxic, chlorinated aromatic
hydrocarbons used in a variety of commercial applications, including paints, inks, adhesives, electrical condensers, batteries, and lubricants. PCBs are known to cause skin diseases and are suspected of causing birth defects and cancer.
Piqué (woven):
a woven cloth showing rounded cords in the weft
PLA:
polylactic acid—a synthetic polymer formed from plant-based material and used as the starting material for a new range of fibres.
Placement print:
a fabric printed with a single motif, such as a portrait head, for display on a particular part of a garment, as opposed to a fabric printed with a repeat pattern.
Plating:
a process for making a knitted fabric from two yarns of different properties-one on the face of the fabric, the other on the back.
Plied yarns:
see folded yarn.
Plissé:
a French term, meaning pleated, which is applied to fabrics with a puckered or crinkled effect.
PLM:
see product life cycle management.
Ply:
the number of layers in a fabric. Also used to denote the number of yarns twisted together to form a single thread or yarn.
Ply yarn:
see folded yarn.
Pointelle:
a form of knit stitch resembling lace.
Polar fleece:
a fleece-back jersey fabric.
Polar solvent:
a solvent containing molecules in which there is an uneven distribution of electrons and therefore a permanent dipole moment.
Polyamide:
another word for nylon.
Polyamide salt:
the substance which is polymerised to produce nylon polymer. Polyamide salt is formed when adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine react to neutralise each other.
Polyester:
a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many types of polyester, the term is used commonly to refer to polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Polymer:
a long molecule made up from many smaller repeat molecules; the following polymers are the main ones used to make synthetic fibres: polyacrylic; polyamide (nylon); polyester; polypropylene; and polyurethane.
Polymerisation:
the process of linking small chemical units together to form larger molecules.
Polymerise:
the process of linking small chemical units together to form larger molecules.
Polynosic:
a type of cellulosic fibre characterised by a high wet modulus of elasticity. When sanded or raised, fabrics made from this fibre have the soft, peachskin surface found in washed silks.
Polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT):
a polymer used in the manufacture of fibres and textiles with stretch properties, including those developed by Toray Industries and known as 3GT.
Pongee:
a lustrous lightweight plain-weave fabric, originally woven in silk.
Popcorn:
a fabric which has undergone a special finishing technique to give it a texture resembling fluffy kernels of popcorn.
Poplin:
a plain-weave cotton-type fabric with weftways ribs and a high warp sett.
Powered exoskeleton:
a powered mobile machine which consists primarily of a skeleton-like framework worn by a person together with a power supply which supplies at least part of the activation energy required for limb movement.
POY:
see partially oriented yarn.
PPS:
polyphenylene sulphide.
Precursor:
raw materials used in a controlled pyrolysis process to make carbon fibres.
Preform:
an object which has been subjected to preliminary, usually incomplete shaping or moulding before undergoing complete or final processing.
Prepolymer:
a polymer of relatively low molecular weight—usually intermediate between that of the monomer and the final polymer or resin—which may be mixed with compounding additives and which is capable of being hardened by further polymerisation during or after a f
Prepreg:
an assembly of fibres or fabrics which have been pre-impregnated with the components of a resin. The resin components are then polymerised, or cured, by heating to produce a composite which has the required permanent shape and strength.
Prince of Wales:
a large-scale check, typified by a reversing effect ground with an overcheck.
Product life cycle management (PLM):
a tool used by apparel companies to integrate design, sourcing and manufacturing activities across the supply chain.
Product-specific safeguard:
(see also safeguard, textile safeguard) a measure previously available to a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) enabling it to protect its market from import surges of particular products from China which caused market disruption. The measure was applicable to any type of product (industrial and agricultural goods) and remained available for use by WTO members until December 11, 2013.
Progressive bundle system:
a system traditionally employed in apparel production where the task of assembling the garment is broken down into small operations, and bundles of work are progressed down the production line through each operation in sequence until the assembly process is complete (see also unit production system).
Protection (geotextiles):
the use of a geotextile as a localised stress reduction layer to prevent or reduce damage to a given surface or layer. This refers mainly to the protection of geomembranes from damage due to sharp rock particles or other
materials in landfill applications.
Provençal:
small stylised florals typical of the Provence region of France.
PTA:
purified terephthalic acid, used in the manufacture of polyester.
PTFE:
polytetrafluoroethylene.
PTT:
polytrimethylene terephthalate.
Puff rubber printing:
see foam printing.
Pultrusion:
a process for producing continuous lengths of fibre-reinforced composite. Liquid resin, fibre and other additives are pulled through a heated die to form a rigid cured structure. This contrasts with extrusion, in which the ingredients are pushed through the die. The structure emerges from the die in the desired shape and requires no further processing.
Pultrusions:
composites produced by drawing resin-coated filaments through a pressure die.
Puncture resistance (geotextiles):
the extent to which a geotextile is able to withstand or resist the penetration
of an object without perforation.
Push-pull fabrics:
bicomponent fabrics composed of a non-absorbent hydrophobic material, usually polyester, on the inside (worn next to the skin) and an absorbent hydrophilic material, usually nylon, on the outside.
PVDF:
polyvinyldifluoride.
Pyrolysed:
see pyrolysis.
Pyrolysis:
a process in chemical compounds are decomposed at high temperatures.