Designers' blanket

The product of a system for designing fabrics, especially suitings, whereby a warp consisting of a number. of different block stripes is woven in a given pattern and weft in different colours or picking patterns is introduced at intervals. The resulting 'blanket' exhibits a number of combinations of colours in a single construction, some of which constitute a random range. Pattern blankets are used to provide samples for commercial selection.

Desulfurizing

An aftertreatment to remove sulfur from newly spun viscose rayon by passing the yarn through a sodium sulfide solution. © 2001 Celanese Acetate LLC

Detergent

A synthetic cleaning agent containing surfactants that do not precipitate in hard water and have the ability to emulsify oil and suspend dirt.

Detwisted

Descriptive of a Yarn of fibres or filaments from which, twist has been removed.

Developing

A stage in dyeing or printing in which leuco compounds dyes or dye intermediates are converted to the final stable state or shade.

Dewpoint

The temperature at which a gas begins to condense as a liquid at a given pressure. Thus in air it is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated when cooled with no further addition of moisture or change in pressure.

Dial

In a circular-knitting machine a circular steel plate with radially arranged slots for needles. A knitting machine equipped with both a dial and a cylinder (q.v.) can produce double-knit fabrics.

Diamine

A compound with two amino groups. Hexamethylenediamine one of the intermediates in the manufacture of nylon 66 salt is an example of this chemical type.

Diaper

1. The original diaper was made of linen and based on a 5-end sateen, woven on the damask principle. The cloth has a smooth even surface. The preferred method of producing this group of weaves is shown at A. It is based on a diced weave e.g., the 5-end sateen. Another form is shown at B where 2 basic weaves are used. Many weaves within this group produce effects which are of a diamond character as shown at C. A very ancient form of diaper is the huckaback. Diapers are produced in cotton, linen and flax, and used principally for towel and toilet purposes.
2. A baby's napkin.

Diazotize

To convert a primary aromatic amine into the corresponding diazonium salt, by treatment with nitrous acid.

Diced weaves

A group of weaves produced by quartering and reversing a weave element, thus forming opposite surfaces and directions in each quarter and clean cuts between the sections. Weaves tend to repeat on relatively small areas, e.g., 8x8 or 10x10, but larger versions are possible. Also referred to as diaper weaves.

Die swell

The increase in diameter that occurs as a visco-elastic melt or solution emerges from a die or spinneret hole. (See also swell ratio.)

Dielectric Breakdown Voltage

In an electrical insulating material the voltage at which electrical breakdown occurs i.e. the voltage at which current will flow and/or the material melts.

Dielectric Constant

Measure of the ability of a dielectric material to store electrical potential energy under the influence of an electric field measured by the ratio of the capacitance of a condenser with the material as the dielectric to its capacitance with a vacuum as the dielectric.

Dielectric Strength

The average voltage gradient at which electrical failure or breakdown occurs. Expressed in volts per mil.