Abstract The invention relates to a high-strength tufted pile fabric having a woven primary backing material of polypropylene or copolymer of propylene yarn, at least some of the yarn having a relatively flat cross section, which has been coated with about 0.2 to 12 percent, based on the weight of the yarn, of a lubricant material prior to penetrating tufts through the bodies of the yarn. The presence of the lubricant material on the yarns of the backing enhances penetration of the tufting needles and tufts into the yarns without the tufting needles causing the otherwise serious rupturing and shattering of the penetrated yarns which occurs during tufting of otherwise similar, but unlubricated, woven primary backing.
A high-strength tufted pile fabric comprising a woven primary backing material, said primary backing woven of yarn made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and copolymers of propylene, at least some of said yarn in said primary backing having a substantially flat cross section, said substantially flat yarn coated with an agent that is essentially nonreactive with and having essentially no solvent action on said yarn, said agent being present in an amount of about 0.6 to 8 percent based on the weight of said yarn, said agent being selected from the group consisting of mineral oil and oxyethylated higher fatty acids, and a plurality of tufts, a substantial number of said tufts being inserted through said woven primary backing with a frequency of more than 6 1/2 tufts per inch, some of said tufts that are inserted with a frequency of more than 6 1/2 tufts per inch penetrating some of said lubricated substantially flat yarn, said penetrated yarn being relatively free of ruptured and shattered areas, said high-strength tufted pile fabric having a fabric strength in the fill direction of at least 50 pounds per linear inch.