Glossary of Car Covers

Car Covers Research Guide Glossary Definitions

Acid Rain
This term is used to mean a kind of perspiration, which is acidic. When acid gets deposited in the dew, fog, snow or rain it can lead to acid rains. Acid rain occurs mostly in industrial areas that have a high pollution level and where emissions of sulpher, nitrogen and other forms of pollutants react with the atmosphere and produces acids. Industrial power generating plants and vehicular pollution are the main sources. Acid rains harm life forms on earth.

Bimini Top
Bimini tops are canvas-made covers that are used for marine purposes like shelters for boats.

Breathable
The fabrics used to make car covers are made of breathable material. This means that moisture and heat is not trapped under the cover and over the paintwork and it is allowed to circulate.

Composite
The term is used for a solid material, which are made of two or more substances. These substances have different physical attributes. In a composite each substance retains its characteristics but contributes properties to the whole.

Denier
Denier is a unit of fineness for yarn. The finesse of yarn should be equal to the fineness weighing one gram for each 9000 meters. The lower it is the more fine it will be and so a 100-denier yarn will be finer than one that is a 150-denier yarn.

Loft
The term loft is used to describe the thickness of a insulated material or a fabric.

Long-term Storage
If you keep your vehicle covered for extended periods, it is known as long-term storage.

Lycra/Spandex
Lycra is an elastic polyurethane textile fiber.

Mildew
It is a white colored fungus growth.

Napped Finish
A hairy, downy and elevated finish is referred to as a Napped finish.

Photo Degradation
It is the destructive process by which harsh ultra violet rays (UV) causes fading, cracking, discoloration and chalking. Though it is generally a destructive process, but there are some advantages too. It has the ability to transform ambergris (bile found inside the intestine of a sperm whale) into highly precious perfume ingredients.

Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a moisture and chemical resistant polymer of ethylene, which has good insulating properties. It is used in packaging and insulation.

Polypropylene
Polypropylene is mainly used in organic synthesis. It is a polymer of propylene, which is obtained by breaking the hydrocarbons of petroleum.

Solution Dyed
Solution dyed is a process by which you add the colors during the production of fibers. The process gives steadfastness as the fibers are spun into the yarn. This process gives the fabric a uniform permeated color that last long.

Universal-fit Car Covers
This car cover is also known as the "shower cap" and it is cover that can fit many different automobiles. And since it is a one-size-fits-all design these covers are never an exact match and so the gaps allow the moisture to get in and ruin the paintwork. This type of cover is also not friendly to the finish of the automobile.

UV
Ultra violet rays are part of solar radiation and is invisible to the naked eye. The rays might be invisible, but the damage they cause are certainly not so. Ultra violet rays are also responsible for photo degradation.

UV-resistant
The term is used to refer to anything that can block the harmful UV rays effectively.

Water-resistant
There are some fabrics that can prevent the penetration of water and these are known as water resistant.