marine backing

Foam backing, made from modified synthetic latex, which is used in areas where there is a lot of water.

match (set or drop)

Pattern match designates the arrangements and dimensions of the repeating units comprising the design of patterned carpet, including woven patterns, prints, tufted high lows, and others.  A typical pattern repeat might be 36 inches wide by 24 inches long.  In set match, this rectangular pattern unit is arranged in parallel rows across the carpet width.  In a half drop pattern, the start of each pattern repeat unit is transposed to the midpoint of the side of the adjacent unit.  In the example, each adjacent unit starts 12 inches down the side of the neighboring one.  In quarter drop match, each unit in the example would start six inches past the neighboring pattern unit’s starting point.  Thus, pattern repeat units in crop match repeat diagonally across the width, and in set match they repeat straight across the width perpendicularly to the length.  Pattern repeat dimensions and match are significant to specifiers and purchasing agents because they influence the amount of excess carpet (over measured area) needed in multiple width carpet installations.

matching

Matching of colors within acceptable tolerances, or with a color variation that is barely detectable to the naked eye.

matting

Severe pile crush combined with entanglement of fibers and tufts.

metallic fiber

A manufactured fiber composed of metal, plastic-coated metal, metal-coated plastic or a core completely covered by metal.  The most important characteristic of metallic fiber in carpet is to reduce build-up of static electricity.

microfibers

Man made.  Ultra fine, ultra soft, silken, or suede-like touch.  Available in acrylic, nylon, polyester, or rayon.

mill end

A short piece of carpet roll goods having a length less than that of full shipping roll or short roll but greater than a remnant.  Quality standards differ among mills, but a mill end length specification of nine to twenty feet is typical.

mohair

Natural.  From angora goats.

molded rubber back

Liquid rubber is coated on the carpet back, then rolled out with an embossed roller.

molding

A wooden or plastic strip attached to the bottom of a baseboard or wall to cover the joint between wall and floor.

monofilament

A yarn composed of a single continuous strand of synthetic polymer large and strong enough to be used directly as a yarn for making textiles through any established process.

moresque

Single strands of different colors of yarn twisted, plied or entangled together to form one multicolored yarn.

multifilament

Synthetic yarns composed of a multiplicity of continuous fibrous strands extruded together, usually from the multiple holes of a single spinneret.  Multifilament carpet yarns are texturized to increase bulk and cover, and are called “bulked continuous filament” yarns or simply BCF yarns.