Contract Textile Terms Glossary
M
man-made fiber:
Also referred to as manufactured fiber, it is a fiber that is chemically produced rather than occurring naturally, e.g., acrylic, nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl, acetate, and rayon.
Martindale:
Refers to a fabric abrasion test method that employs the Martindale machine to test fabric using worsted wool as the abradant. This is an oscillating test in which pressure is specified, fabric samples are mounted flat and rubbed in a figure-eight motion, and the results are measured in the number of cycles achieved before noticeable wear is apparent. Number of cycles determines abrasion rating.
matelassé:
A fabric with a quilted or puckered effect created through the combination of tightly woven areas next to open pocket areas that may be enhanced by adding stuffer yarns or by finishing to create shrinkage.
memo:
A sample of a fabric supplied by a fabric company for reference and selection purposes.
mercerization:
A treatment for cotton yarn or fabric that increases the luster and affinity for dyestuffs.
microfiber:
A category of very fine synthetic yarns used in lightweight, high-density fabrics with one denier per filament or less.
mildew resistance:
A fabric's ability to resist mold and mildew. Fabric can be chemically treated so that the performance characteristics are not adversely affected if the fabric is exposed to moisture for long periods of time.
mohair:
The lustrous hair of the Angora goat used predominantly in cut-pile fabrics.
moisture barrier:
A protective barrier finish applied to a fabric that does not allow a liquid to pass through.
moisture regain:
The degree to which fibers absorb moisture from a standard atmosphere. Technically, moisture regain is the amount of water in a material brought to equilibrium with standard atmospheric conditions, expressed as a percentage of the mass of the moisture-free ("bone dry") material. Moisture regain may be tested by ASTM D2654. Standard regain values for common fibers are as follows (note: may vary by manufacturer or type):
Polypropylene 0.1%
Polyester 0.4%
Acrylic 1.5%
Nylon 6 3.8 - 4.5%
Nylon 6,6 3.5 - 5.0%
Cotton 8.5%
Rayon (viscose) 10.7 - 16.0%
Silk 11.0%
Wool 13.6 - 16.0%
monofilament:
One strand of extruded continuous filament of a man-made fiber.
multifilament:
A yarn made up of multiple continuous filaments.
muslin:
A plain weave cotton fabric, light to medium weight, usually unbleached and undyed. The name is derived from Mosul, the city in Mesopotamia where the fabric originally was produced.
