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The factors which influence the durability of a commercial carpet include the fiber type, yarn construction, carpet construction, tuft bind and delamination strength. Each of these factors affects the wear resistance and is directly related to the carpet's useful life.
The durability and abrasion resistance of the fiber chosen is critical. Nylon type 6,6 carpet fiber has exceptional abrasion resistance. With a face pile of Solution's Ultron nylon fiber, the wear characteristics are equivalent or better than any other carpet fiber. The fiber's cross-sectional shape and the hardness of the fiber itself contribute to its abrasion resistance.
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| Carpet Application
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| Classrooms
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| Hospital Rooms
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| Apartment Rooms
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| Bank Lobbies
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| Condos
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| Airport Ticket Counters
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| Retail -- Aisles
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| Movie Theaters
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| Libraries
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| Executive Offices
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| Museum Lobbies
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| Restaurants
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| Retail Displays
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| Hotel Rooms
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| Exercise Facilities
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The durability of a carpet is also a function of the yarn construction. The yarn must be of the proper size and twist level to eliminate fraying of the fibers and preclude the pile from having a "worn" appearance. Yarn ply also effects the durability of the carpet. A two ply yarn means that two strands of yarn are twisted together to form the yarn bundle. Four ply yarn systems and larger are only used for textural effects.
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Tuft bind also influences durability. It denotes the manner and materials by which the tufts are locked into the carpet. It is important that the fiber and yarn system be compatible with the adhesive system chosen. Exceptional tuft bind characteristics can be achieved with special chemical adhesive compounds. Excellent tuft bind welds the tufts into the primary backing of the carpet and prevents yarn from being removed by cleaning methods or traffic.
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Delamination strength refers to the adhesion properties of the bonding compound joining the primary and secondary backing of a carpet. This also directly influences the carpet's durability. A secondary backing is a necessary component of many commercial types of carpeting because it aids in the dimensional stability of the product. Obviously, it is desirable to have good adhesion properties between the primary and secondary backings so that the carpet will not separate from its secondary backing under foot or wheel traffic use, or as a result of cleaning procedures.
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