Micronaire Method

A means of measuring fiber fineness by determining the resistance of a sample to a flow of air forced through it.

Micronaire value

A measurement of cotton fibre quality which is an indication of the fibre specific surface.
Note: The micronaire value is a function of both fibre fineness and maturity. Low values indicate fine and/or immature fibres; high values indicate coarse and/or mature fibres. Micronaire value is deteri-nined in practice by measuring the resistance to air flow of a plug of fibres having a specified mass confined in a chamber of specified volume. The original micronaire instruments were calibrated against the linear densities, in micrograms per inch, of a series of American Upland cottons and this scale of values survives in modern instruments, though it is now recognised as an arbitrary scale.

Microstretching

The use of inter-meshing, driven, corrugated rollers for the incremental extension of the weft yarns of woven fabrics. When applied immediately before the cross-linking of lightweight cotton fabrics, weft tensile strength loss is minimised.

Migration

The movement of an added substance, e.g., a dye, pigment, cross-linking agent or alkali, from one part of a textile material to another. (See also fibre migration.)

Mil

A unit of length 0.001 inch commonly used for measuring the diameter of wires and textile monofilaments.

Milanaise

Narrow braid or corded fabric in which the cord effect is produced by leno weaving. One end is made to cross another coarse end in an alternate crossed and open shed sequence.

Milanese (weaving)

A low-quality cotton fabric of about 17x14 tex with approximately 30 ends x 38 picks/cm.

Milanese fabric, warp-knitted

A warp-knitted fabric usually made with a full set of warp threads (i.e., containing twice as many threads as there are wales in the fabric). The threads are continuously divided into two equal warp sheets, one set of which traverses to the right continuously and the other set to the left, sothat any particular thread traverses the full width of the fabric and, on reaching the selvedge, is transferred to the other set.
Note: The manner of traversing the threads may be either silk lap or cotton lap.

Milanese warp-knitting machine

A straight-bar or circular warp-knitting machine specially constructed to knit milanese fabrics by means of atlas-type lapping traverses with two sets of warp threads which move continuously in opposition without changing direction. (See also atlas fabric and knitting machine.)

Milano rib, weft-knitted

A weft-knitted rib-based fabric. Each complete repeat of the structure consist of three components knitted in the sequences shown to give one row of 1 x 1 rib (A) and one row of plain tubular knitting (B), the two component parts of B usually being similar. The appearance and characteristics of the fabrics are related to the ratio of the course lengths of A and B. (See also half-Milano rib, weft-knitted and double jersey, weft-knitted.)

Mildew

A growth of certain species of fungi.
Note: On textile materials, this may lead to discoloration, tendering, and variation in dyeing properties.

Mildew Resistance

The degree to which fabrics are unaffected by certain fungi that cause odor and discoloration.

Military braid

A plain , flat braid usually made from continuous-filament yarn.

Mill End

A remnant or short length of finished fabric. © 2001 Celanese Acetate LLC

Mill rig

A rope mark or running mark (see rope marks,) formed during rotary milling of pieces.