What is a treatment on woven material that helps prevent unraveling called?

The correct answer is selvedge. In the context of woven materials, the selvedge refers to the tightly woven edge of the fabric that prevents the threads from unraveling. This edge is woven in a way that reinforces it, often making it stronger and more durable than the rest of the fabric.

The purpose of the selvedge is to eliminate fraying and to provide a clean finish to the fabric edges, which is especially important in industrial applications where the integrity of the material is paramount. When fabrics are manufactured, the mechanism used in the weaving process creates this distinct edge, ensuring that the fabric maintains its structure during use and handling.

Other choices like hem and splice relate more to sewing methods or joining materials, while end treatment could refer to various forms of finishing but is not a specific term used to denote the prevention of unraveling in woven fabrics. Hence, selvedge is specifically and appropriately linked to the concept of reinforcing fabric edges to avoid fraying.