Tufting textiles are fabrics made by creating loops or cut piles of yarn and then inserting them in a primary backing to make a raised, textured surface. The process is derived from hand-tufted quilts and rugs and is now mostly mechanized, thus allowing the fast production of carpets, upholstery, and decorative materials. Backing materials (normally woven or nonwoven) and pile yarns made from fibers such as nylon, polyester, wool, or polypropylene, which are chosen for their wear resistance, softness, or color, are the main sources of tufting textiles.
Tufting fabric finds its application almost everywhere, be it in floor coverings, automotive interiors, furniture upholstery, wall panels, or home decor products like cushions and bedspreads. The reason for its vast application is the ability to vary the height, density, and pattern of the pile to get different levels of performance.
Tufting fabrics are either classified by pile type (loop pile, cut pile, and cutloop), backing type, or end use. Loop pile tufting fabric is a good choice for floor coverings that are subjected to heavy traffic because of its resilience. On the contrary, cut pile provides a soft, luxurious feeling for residential interiors. Besides that, technical tufted fabrics are also used structurally in acoustic panels, as well as in transport, where comfort, insulation, and design freedom are of the utmost importance.