Factors Influencing Air Flow Through Unbacked Tufted Carpets

Abstract

Through-air dryers are widely used for drying unbacked tufted carpets after dyeing- steaming-washing processes. Since the drying rate depends greatly on air velocity, carpet air permeability is a very important parameter affecting drying time. We study the effects of several carpet construction and process parameters on the air permeability of unbacked cut-pile nylon carpets with woven polypropylene primary backing using a modified Frazier air permeability tester and a laboratory through-air dryer. We then present a model predicting pressure drop over the carpets versus apparent velocity.