Staff News
NCRC's founder and co-director, Dr. Subhash Batra retired from NC State effective January 1, 2008, after thrity years of service.
Subhash received his early education in India, followed by advanced degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the U.S. His professional career includes teaching and research as a graduate student at the two institutions, and research appointments at the Battle Memorial Institute (Columbus, OH) and MIT (Cambridge, MA). In 1977 he joined NCSU as an Associate Professor.
Subhash established the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center, in 1991, through an award from the National Science Foundation, the State of North Carolina and industrial membership. As the Director of this Center, he directed the research programs undertaken by the center. NCRC is the legacy he leaves behind. We will miss subhash's leadership and wish him all the best in his retirement.
NCRC is establishing a scholarship in subhash's name to honor his many years of dedicated service and commitment to academic excellence. If you are interested in contributing to this fund, please send a check made to NCRC funds for Batra scholarship and mail to NCRC.
Facilities News
NCRC has obtained a TSI 3160 Fractional Filter Tester. This equipment measures filter efficiency and penetration versus particle size. The tester is capable of measuring efficiencies better than 99.999999 percent over a particle size range of 0.015 to 0.8 micron. Upstream and downstream particle detection is accomplished by using two Condensation Particle Counters essentially counting the number of particles before and after the tested filter. The system is fully automated and controlled through a simple, yet intuitive program. The operator may define any number of defined particle sizes as well as air flow rate to challenge the filtration media. Overall, the TSI 3160 is a refined testing device that is simple to use and highly configurable.
The phase II of the installation of new equipment in the staple nonwovens Laboratory has been completed. The lab now includes an Asselin crosslapper and rotary tacker. NCRC is finalizing the plans for obtaining a new thru-air oven and a 4-board needle punching line for its staple nonwovens lab. These are anticipated to arrive in the third quarter of 2007.
Student News
We are pleased to report that the following students have successfully completed and have been awarded a North Carolina State University Graduate Certificate in Nonwovens Science and Technology.
1. Karthik Arumugam
2. Saurabh Chhaparwal
3. Kannan Allampalayam Jayaraman
4. Natalyia Fedorova
5. Nagandara Anantharamia
Membership News
We are pleased to report that the following have joined NCRC. Welcome new members.
NCRC Full Members - New for 2008
| Hollingsworth and Vose |
| Reifenhauser |
NCRC Affiliate Members - New for 2008
Advisory Board News
A total of 18 proposals were received. The Industrial Advisory Board approved the following proposals for funding.
- The Generation and Stability of Organic Films on Polyolefin Surfaces
- Simulating Multi-component Aerosol Filters via Geometrical Modeling and Volumetric Imaging
- Mechanical properties of thermally bonded bicomponent fiber nonwovens: experimental study and micromechanics
- Nonwovens Containing Novel Polymer Fillers Enhanced
- Electrostatic Properties and Hydroentangling Efficiency via Atmospheric Plasma Pretreatment
- Challenges in Atmospheric-Plasma Aided Grafting of Biocidal Agents to Nonwovens
- Development of Nanoclay Modified Fibers and Nonwovens
- Surface Engineering of Nonwoven Materials using Atomic Layer Deposition and Self-Assembled Nanolayers
