Student researchers currently engaged in The Nonwovens Institute’s (NWI’s) fundamental nonwovens research program will be presenting posters at the upcoming RISE® (Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics) conference, Oct. 1-2, in the Hunt Library on the Centennial Campus of NC State University.
All told, 16 NWI student researchers are slated to showcase their work during the poster session from 5:00-7:00 pm during the Oct. 1 conference reception at the Lonnie Poole Golf Club on NC State’s Centennial Campus. In addition to the poster presentations, RISE® will feature two days of technical presentations, covering topics ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to sustainability, and the awarding of Lifetime Technical Achievement and RISE® Innovation awards.
For the full conference program and to register for RISE®, please visit https://www.riseconf.net/. For more details on the student researchers and the work they will be highlighting at the conference, please read on.
Anicah Smith O’Brien – “Effect of Surface Coatings on Biodegradability & Functional Properties of Biopolymer Substrates”
Anicah is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Anicah’s NWI research project focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of how surfactant coatings affect both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of biopolymer substrates and their impact on important in-use properties, such as wettability.
Büşra Özdemir – “Charging Behavior of Nonwovens”
Büşra is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Polymer and Fiber Science at NC State University. Büşra’s NWI research project focuses on the charging behavior of nonwovens, with the aim of determining the parameters that affect the efficiency and pressure drop of respirators.
Christine Lee – “Process-Structure-Property Relationships of PLA Nonwovens”
Christine is a Ph.D. student in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Christine’s NWI research project is focused on improving the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA), such as crystallinity, shrinkage and heat deflection temperature (HDT), by blending PLA with other biopolymers such as polybutylene succinate (PBS) and poly-D-lactic acid (PDLA) for expanded use in nonwoven applications.
Darshana Malusare – “Exploring Adsorbent Particulate Deposition in Spunbond Nonwoven Processes”
Darshana is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Darshana’s NWI research project focuses on exploring adsorbent particulate deposition in spunbond nonwoven processes.
Jose Fernandez – “Biodegradability of Polymer Blends and Additives for Nonwoven Applications”
Jose is a Ph.D. candidate in Forest Biomaterials at NC State University. Jose’s NWI research project focuses on understanding how composition, fiber configuration/phase morphology and additives impact biodegradability and nonwoven performance.
Katie Ernst – “Fundamentals of Hollow Fibers”
Katie is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University. Katie’s NWI project aims to understand the mechanism of hollow-fiber formation during the segmented-arc melt spinning process by investigating the effects of viscoelasticity, solidification and processing parameters to prevent fiber collapse, improve spinning stability and ensure shape retention.
Lucille Verster Rivera – “Unravel Degradation Modalities of Bio-Based and Synthetic Polymers”
Lucille is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State University. Lucille’s NWI research project aims to develop standardized methods and breakdown criteria to quantify, visualize and characterize the degradation and photostability of synthetic and bio-based polymer fibers and nonwovens.
Mahsa Nazem – “Investigating the Interplay: Fiber Properties and Chemical Interactions in Wet Wipes”
Mahsa is a Ph.D. candidate in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Mahsa’s research project investigates how ingredients in wet-wipe formulations impact fiber degradation. The project studies degradation mechanisms and product lifetime estimation/shelf-life, using accelerated aging including creep rupture tests.
Mashfiqur Rahman – “Numerical Simulation and Experimental Characterization of Nanofibrous Materials”
Mashfiqur is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Mashfiqur’s NWI research project focuses on simulation and experimental characterization of nanofibrous materials with the aim of incorporating modern tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), to inform the electrospinning process.
Mauricio Ruiz – “Online Measurement of ODF and Web Uniformity”
Mauricio is a Ph.D. candidate in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Mauricio’s research project is focused on developing an online image acquisition system for detailed fiber distribution analysis in nonwoven applications. By investigating the impact of air diffusers on fiber distribution and developing real-time feedback algorithms, the objective is to enhance the understanding and control of fabric structure, thereby enabling the prediction of mechanical properties.
Nishant Bhatta – “Flow-less Coalescence Filtration Experiment: A Novel Approach to Study Instantaneous Saturation in Nonwovens”
Nishant is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Nishant’s research project focuses on the use of centrifugal force to decouple the saturation profile from airflow in a partially wetted coalescing media to isolate the role of the nonwoven’s microstructure in promoting/preventing fluid transport.
Md Nur Uddin – “Adsorbent Particulate Deposition in Meltblown Coform Process”
Nur is a Ph.D. candidate in Fiber and Polymer Science at NC State University. Nur’s research focuses on optimizing the integration of adsorbent particulates into nonwoven materials using the coform meltblown process. By investigating particulate dispensing, fiber-particle interactions, and process conditions, the project aims to enhance properties such as absorption and particle retention, while improving manufacturing efficiency for industrial-scale production. Key steps include experimental studies, microstructural characterizations, and performance evaluations to develop advanced particulate-loaded nonwoven products.
Sofia Abello – “Strategies to Control Fiber Adhesion Behavior in Nonwoven Mats”
Sofia is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering at NC State University. Sofia’s research project focuses on using maleic anhydride-based functional adhesion modifiers (FAMs) to investigate compatibilization efficiency in immiscible polymer blends for bilayer sandwich films and bicomponent fibers.
Shajid Rahman – “Modeling Compression-Recovery in Multicomponent NWs”
Shajid is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Shajid’s NWI research project focuses on modeling compression recovery in multicomponent nonwovens, with the aim of developing a microscale force-network model that can simulate propagation of normal and tangential stresses through fiber-fiber contact in a 3-D fibrous structure.
Shyam Prasad Atri – “Computational and Experimental Study of Particle Removal with Electrically Charged Multilayer Nonwoven”
Shyam is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Shyam’s NWI research project focuses on the development of a computational and experimental study for particle capture using electrostatically charged multilayer nonwovens.
Young Jae Kim – “Understanding the Influence of Molecular Ordering on Wetting Resistance”
Young Jae Kim is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. Young Jae Kim’s NWI research project is focused on developing hydrocarbon-based alternatives to fluorocarbons for enhancing the performance of nonwoven materials. Historically, fluorocarbons have exhibited the highest resistance to fluids, but their toxicity, specifically the bio-accumulative nature of PFAS compounds, has prompted companies to seek alternatives.
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The RISE® conference, organized by INDA – the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, is in its 14th edition. INDA serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses.
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