Glossary A-D
A
Abrasion Resistance: The resistance of a surface to rubbing or friction. A measure of durability as opposed to hardness.
Acceleration Stress: Additional stress placed on rope due to increasing the velocity of load.
Acrilan: Acrylic staple and filament fabric composed of at least 85% acrylonitrile, a liquid derivative of natural gas and air.
Acrylic: Generic term for manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight acrylonitrile units. Made in both filament and staple forms.
Adhesive: Applying a pressure sensitive vinyl to the surface of an awning. This can be done through the process of eradication, painting or welding (heat sealing).
Adhesive Anchors: Used on veneer brick surfaces and fasteners located close to corners, where the high pressures associated with expansion anchors could raise the risk of being pulled out. Adhesive anchors are bonded directly to the substrate by filling an oversized drilled hole, which contains the threaded fastener, with an epoxy adhesive.
Aluminum Pipe: Manufactured with the same dimensions as steel pipe, it weighs only one-third as much. On the other hand, it is only one-third as stiff as steel pipe. Temper is lost at welded joints.
Aluminum Tubing: Often used in lieu of steel, aluminum tubing is available in a variety of shapes, sizes and tempers.
Anchor Line: Rope with a thimble spliced into one end for attaching an anchor.
Anchorage: This involves the location, style and strength of connections from the awning or canopy to the building or foundation.
Anodizing: A process used to improve corrosion resistance of aluminum and aluminum-based alloys. The material is cleaned, then immersed in a bath of acids. The metal is the positive pole, or anode, in the acid bath. A current is applied and oxidation occurs. After the item rinsed, a second step or sealing treatment is applied. This is also when chromate is added, resulting in various colors.
Applique: A motif or design made separately, then sewn or otherwise affixed to a cloth or garment.
Awning Cord: Small-diameter cord used for tying down awning covers and for many utility purposes; most commonly a cotton braid with stretch resistant fiber core.
Awnings: An awning is an architectural projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is wholly supported by the building to which it is attached. An awning is comprised of a lightweight, rigid skeleton structure over which a rigid covering is attached.
B
Backlit Awnings: A lighting system placed behind the material structure causing it to be illuminated.
Basket Weave: Plain weave with two or more warp and filing threads interlaced to resemble a plaited basket. Has flat look, porosity, and looseness or "give". Can be very heavy or lightweight and made of any fiber.
Bitt(s): A post or pair of posts with or without a crossbar (norman) for securing heavy lines; usually in the bow of a boat.
Bollard: A round heavy post for securing lines; sometimes on a boat, but usually on a pier.
Bolt: A bolt of fabric is usually rolled around a flat piece of cardboard or other inner core. It can also be flat folded which means it is actually reefed into a flat bundle. A bolt is usually 50 to 60 yards of fabric.
Bolt-Through: Bolt and the nut are manufactured to controlled specifications, and there is a wealth of data on the strength provided by such connections.
Braid: A narrow textile structure formed by plaiting several strands of yarn. Braid is usually used in trimming. Braids may also be made by plaiting several strips of fabric.
Breaking Strength: The measured load required to break a fabric or rope under tension; also called tensile strength.
Bull Rope: A large rope used in hauling, lifting, or hoisting.
C
Cable Twist: A yarn or rope construction in which each successive twist is in the opposite direction to the preceding twist. Defined as "S-Z-S" or "Z-S-Z."
Cable-Laid Rope: A rope made of three ropes of three strands each, all twisted into a cable.
Cadmium Plating: An electro plating process which protects iron and steel. Salt spray tests indicate cadium is superior to zinc in corrosion resistance.
Calendering: A process of passing cloth between rollers (or "calendars"), usually under carefully controlled heat and pressure, to produce a variety of surface textures or effects in fabric.
Canopy: A canopy is an architectural projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is supported by the building to which it is attached and at the outer end by not less than one stanchion. A canopy is comprised of a rigid structure over which a rigid covering is attached.
Canvas: Cotton, linen, or synthetic in heavy weights with an even firm weave, for sails and many industrial purposes. Awning stripe canvas has printed or woven strips.
Chalk and Mason Line: Small cords of various, fibers, braided or twisted, used in construction for marking straight lines; the cord must have a rough texture to hold chalk.
Coated: Fabrics that are coated are usually done so with a liquid or semi liquid product. Coatings can be urethanes, acrylics, PVC, neoprenes, and other substances. 1) Knife over roll: the material rolls past a knife that acts to spread a liquid substance across the width of the fabric. 2) Extrusion: dry chemical mixes are heated and mixed through an extruder and then passed through a roller or die to flatten and spread the substance across the width of the fabric.
Coated Fabric: Fabrics coated, covered, or treated with various substances to make them stronger and/or more resistant to weathering elements. Coating substances include rubber, resins, plastics, PVC, melamines, and oil finishes.
Coefficient of Friction: Gripping ability important for rope use on winches and in situations where slipperiness can be dangerous or cause problems. Gripping depends upon the friction or texture of the rope itself, its elasticity, creep (or taffy effect, as in monofilament polypro), the area of contact, and the ratio of rope size to bitt size.
Convex: An awning configuration characterized by a series of parallel bows in the shape of a convex curve. It produces a radius shape with flat ends.
Cordage: The general term that covers all rope, cord, lines, and string.
Count: 1) Number size of a yarn. 2) Number of ends and picks per inch of a weave, or their sum, as 200 count sheeting.
Crazing: This describes the condition of scratch marks on the surface of fabrics. These can occur as a result of abrasion or folding. It's usually a topical condition and does not affect the fabric's performance except from an aesthetic point of view.
Crimp: To bend, kink, curl, or wave a fiber to give it more loft.
Crocking: Rubbing off of color as a result of improper dye, poor penetration, or fixation.
Cut-Out Lettering: Lettering or graphic elements that are cut out of a fabric and replaced from behind with letters or graphics of another material.
D
De-Sizing: A finishing process which removes the original sizing from warp yarns.
Delamination: This describes the separation of the individual plies in a laminate. Laminates are typically made of two or more plies that are fused together under combinations of heat, pressure, and adhesive. When a lamination comes apart, delamination has occurred.
Denier: Unit of weight indicating size of a fiber filament based on weight in grams of a standard stand of 9,000 meters. The higher the denier number, the heavier the yarn. Used in connection with silk, rayon, acetate, and most man-made fibers.
Die-Casting: The forming of parts by forcing molten metal into metal molds. Castings made with this process can be made to very exacting tolerance. Zinc and aluminum are most common.
Dielectric: A non-conductor or poor conductor of electricity. Polypropylene has excellent dielectric properties.
Dielectric Welding: Certain fabrics with thermoplastic properties, such as vinyl, can be welded together with various machines that use high frequency electrical impulse. Thermatron is a manufacturer of such machine. A high frequency electric impulse is sent through the fabrics by means of a bar or table and this mixes up the molecular structure of the thermoplastic materials. When the bar or table is removed, the two fabrics are melted or welded together. This differs from Hot Air Welding, but the end result is the same.