BTEB Diploma in Textile Engineering Examination key terms

A natural seed hair composed mainly of cellulose, harvested from the boll of the cotton plant and twisted into yarn because its surface has natural convolutions that help fibres grip each other.

The average length of a group of short natural fibres such as cotton or wool. Longer staple usually spins into finer, stronger yarn because more fibres overlap along the yarn axis.

A measure of cotton fibre fineness and maturity obtained from airflow resistance through a compressed sample. Low values indicate fine, immature fibres; high values indicate coarse, mature fibres.

A textile fibre of indefinite or very long length, either extruded from a spinneret as in polyester or silk, or formed naturally. Filaments may be used flat or cut into staple.

The mass in grams of 9000 metres of a filament yarn or fibre. It is a direct count, so a higher denier number means a coarser, heavier filament.

A process that crimps, coils or loops continuous filament yarn to give it bulk, stretch and a softer handle, making it behave more like staple spun yarn in fabric.

Intimate mixing of two or more fibre types before or during spinning so that the resulting yarn combines their properties, such as polyester strength with cotton absorbency and comfort.

The spinning process that opens tufts into individual fibres, removes impurities and short fibres, and delivers a loose rope called sliver with fibres roughly aligned for later drafting.

A continuous, untwisted rope of loosely parallel fibres delivered by carding or drawing. It has no strength of its own and is further drafted and twisted into yarn.

A spinning preparation stage in which several slivers are combined and drafted between roller pairs, improving fibre parallelisation and evenness by doubling out irregularities.

A fine, lightly twisted strand produced on the roving frame from drawn sliver. It is the final feed material for the ring spinning frame.

The ratio of input mass per unit length to output mass per unit length in a drafting zone. Drafting thins the material and, if uncontrolled, can increase irregularity.

A spinning method in which a drafted strand is twisted by a traveller running on a ring and wound onto a bobbin, producing strong, versatile yarn at moderate production speed.

A number expressing yarn linear density. Indirect systems such as English cotton count rise as yarn gets finer; direct systems such as tex give mass per 1000 metres.

The number of turns inserted in one inch of yarn. More twist gives a stronger, leaner yarn up to a point, then reduces strength and changes handle and liveliness.

The set of parallel, lengthwise yarns held under tension on the loom. Warp yarns must be strong and abrasion resistant because they endure repeated shedding and beating.

The crosswise yarn inserted between the warp threads during weaving. It is usually softer and less twisted than warp yarn because it meets less mechanical abrasion.

The weaving motion that separates warp yarns into two layers to form a triangular opening, the shed, through which the weft is passed before the reed beats it up.

The weaving motion that inserts the weft yarn across the shed, using a shuttle, projectile, rapier, water jet or air jet depending on the loom type.

Application of a starch or synthetic film to warp yarns before weaving to raise abrasion resistance and reduce breakage during shedding and reed action.

A knitting method in which loops are formed across the fabric width from a single yarn supply, giving stretchy fabric such as single jersey, and allowing garment panels to be shaped.

A knitting method in which a whole set of warp yarns is looped simultaneously along the fabric length, producing fabrics that are dimensionally stable and less prone to running.

A horizontal row of loops running across the width of a knitted fabric. Courses per centimetre indicate how closely the loops are packed vertically.

A vertical column of interlocking loops running along the length of a knitted fabric. Wales per centimetre, together with courses, defines fabric tightness.

A dye that forms a covalent chemical bond with cellulose fibres in the presence of alkali, giving excellent wash fastness and bright shades on cotton.

A batch dyeing method in which material is immersed in a dyebath and dye gradually transfers from the liquor onto the fibre until the bath is largely depleted.

A metal salt or other chemical applied to fibre before or during dyeing so that the dye attaches to the fibre through the mordant, improving fixation and often changing the shade.

The resistance of a dyed or printed textile to change or to staining of adjacent material when exposed to washing, light, rubbing, perspiration or other agencies in use.

A printing method in which insoluble colour particles are fixed on the fabric surface with a binder rather than absorbed into the fibre, giving simple application and good light fastness.

The garment planning step of arranging pattern pieces on paper or digitally to minimise fabric waste while respecting grain lines, fabric direction and pattern matching.

The process of systematically increasing or decreasing a master pattern to produce a range of sizes that keep the same fit proportions and design features.

The direction marked on a pattern piece to show how it must align with the warp of the fabric, ensuring garments hang correctly and do not twist after assembly.

The percentage of fabric consumed from a lay that ends up in cut garment parts. Efficient markers and correct spreading raise utilisation and cut material cost.

A standard reference of graded grey patches used to rate colour change or staining in fastness testing, where a higher grade means less visible change.

Acceptable quality level, the maximum percentage of defective units considered acceptable in a sampling inspection lot, used to decide whether a shipment should be accepted.

Count strength product, the product of yarn count and lea strength, used as an index of spinning quality so that stronger yarn is expected at finer counts.

Scheduled inspection, cleaning, lubrication and replacement of machine parts carried out before failure occurs, reducing breakdowns and extending equipment life.

Repair work performed after a machine has failed and stopped production. It is reactive, often costly in downtime, and is best limited to non-critical equipment.

The rotating shaft on a ring spinning frame that carries the bobbin and, together with the traveller, inserts twist into the yarn.

The time allowed, in minutes, for a trained operator working at standard performance to complete a defined task, used to set targets and calculate labour cost.

The systematic examination of method and time in a production task, combining method study to improve the operation with work measurement to set fair time standards.

Allocation of garment operations to workstations so that each station's workload is as equal as possible, minimising waiting and maximising output from the sewing line.

The operating cost of a production line or factory for one minute, found by dividing total running cost by available minutes, and used with SMV to price operations.

The output or sales level at which total revenue equals total cost, so the business makes neither profit nor loss and any further sales generate profit.

An expense that stays broadly the same regardless of production volume, such as factory rent, salaries and insurance, so it is spread over more units as output rises.

Computer-aided design, the use of software to create, grade and modify textile and garment designs, including fabric structures, prints and pattern pieces.

A shedding mechanism, often controlled electronically, that raises selected warp threads in small repeating patterns to produce small geometric designs on woven fabric.

A structured review that identifies workplace hazards, evaluates how likely and severe harm could be, and records controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Clothing or equipment worn by a worker, such as ear plugs, goggles or safety shoes, to reduce exposure to a hazard when other controls cannot remove it.

A facility that treats dyehouse and finishing wastewater through screening, equalisation, chemical and biological stages so that discharge meets legal limits.

A supervised period of practical training in a real textile or garment workplace, where a student applies classroom theory and records observations for academic assessment.

A written account of an investigation or improvement study, presenting objectives, method, collected data, analysis, conclusions and recommendations in a logical structure.