Carpets and rugs (Teppich Hochflor) are used all over the world, as a way to provide warmth and comfort to interior flooring. A carpet is defined as a textile floor covering, with an upper layer that exists alongside a backing material and while many people have these fitted throughout their house, others choose to have wooden flooring which is covered by rugs (http://www.iwantarug.com) .
However, the word carpet is often used interchangeably with the word rug, even though they actually define different styles of floor covering. In modern western usage, a carpet is defined as a covering that stretches from wall to wall, while a rug is used to define a smaller, stand along covering. There are a number of popular styles of modern carpets in production all around the world, with difference in terms of the materials used and the techniques used during manufacture. Some of the most common types of carpets include woven carpets, needlefelt carpets, knotted carpets, tufted carpets, flat weave carpets, and hooked carpets.
While many carpets are still in production in the 21st century, the vast majority of carpets used in the western world are made through the process of tufting. Tufted carpets are made by having a carpet pile injected into a secondary backing material. This material is then bonded to another backing comprising of a woven hessian weave or a man made synthetic alternative as a way to provide stability. This way of making carpets is the most common method that is still in use around the world, due to the many advantages of cost, stability, strength, ease of manufacture, and availability of materials. However, other styles of carpets are still produced around the world, in one of the contemporary centres of carpet production. While many places have a history that is associated with carpet manufacture, the most important global centres of production include Kashmir, Bhadohi, Tabriz in Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Northern Africa, Nepal, Spain, Turkmenistan, and Tibet.
In terms of style and fibre, there are also many differences in modern carpet manufacture. The most popular materials include nylon, polypropylene, wool, wool blends, polyester, and acrylic. While natural materials like wool, silk, and cotton are still popular, synthetic materials are now widely used in commercial carpet and rug manufacture. Carpet fibres are generally chosen for their durability, appearance, cost, and ease of manufacture. In terms of scale of production, synthetic nylons and polypropylene make up an estimated 90% of the entire global commercial market.