The Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center serves the nonwovens industry through fundamental and applied research in the technologies of the industry and an active program of technology transfer. The Center has developed core research, non-core research, and technology transfer activities.
The oversight committee for NCRC is an Industrial Advisory Board (IAB). Each Member Company (not Affiliate or Associate) is represented on the IAB. The Board meets at least twice a year and gives advice on the nature of the core research programs carried out in the Center. Research proposals are developed by the faculty in consultation with Member companies based on their perceptions of the needs of the nonwoven industry. The IAB helps prioritize these proposals for the funding decision. Progress reports of the research are presented to the IAB members and their technical representatives twice a year. The Board discusses the importance and quality of the results and recommends the Center's path forward. The Board also monitors operational aspects of the Center. It plays an important role in the recruitment of new members. It sets policy with regard to membership criteria and operation of the Center by updating and modifying the Bylaws.
Core research programs are developed jointly by the Center faculty/staff and the NCRC member companies. Core research programs focus on areas such as
- the development of new materials
- the modification of existing materials
- basic studies that lead to a better understanding of technologies
- applied research directed at process material - property relationships
- the development of instrumentation and test methods for nonwoven fabrics
Core research programs are supported by funds from the State of North Carolina and fees from NCRC member companies. The results of the research are proprietary to the NCRC and to all member companies of the Center. This information is placed in the public domain, through presentations and publications, poster presentations, software, and patent disclosures, only after the approval of the Industrial Advisory Board of NCRC. The policies governing the ownership of intellectual property are discussed under the policy section.
NCRC supports has a total of 20 active research programs. Details of these programs are confidential until published.
To learn more about our core research programs completed over the last few years, click on the link below.
Modeling Research Activities at NCRC
Current NCRC Core Projects
Project Number |
Project Title
|
06-84 |
Fundamentals of Fiber Formation in the Spun Bond Process |
06-85 |
Consumer Acceptance of Nonwovens in Apparel & Accessories |
06-86 |
Fluid Absorption Properties of Nonwoven Fabrics: Analysis of Real Geometries via DVI |
06-87 |
Surface Modification with Fluorochemical Melt Additives |
06-88 |
Durable, Electric Charge Storage or Dissipation in Nonwovens via Surface Modification |
06-90 |
Mechanistic Understanding and Optimization of Thermal Bonding for Bicomponent Polymer Fibers |
06-91 |
Electrospun Nanofibers of Enzymatically-modified Polysaccharide for Drug Delivery and Wound Healing |
06-92NC |
Abrasion Testing of Nonwovens |
06-93NC |
Flame Retardency of Nonwovens |
06-94 |
Modeling Mechanical Properties of Nonwovens |
06-95NC-NTC |
Electrospinning Water Dispersible Polymers |
06-96NC |
Modeling Flammability |
06-97NC |
High Performance Meltblown Nonwovens |
07-98 |
The Generation and Stability of Organic Films on Polyolefin Surfaces |
07-99 |
Simulating Multi-component Aerosol Filters via Geometrical Modeling and Volumetric Imaging |
07-100 |
Mechanical properties of thermally bonded bicomponent fiber nonwovens: experimental study and micromechanics |
07-101 |
Nonwovens Containing Novel Polymer Fillers |
07-102 |
Enhanced Electrostatic Properties and Hydroentangling Efficiency via Atmospheric Plasma Pretreatment |
07-103 |
Challenges in Atmospheric-Plasma Aided Grafting of Biocidal Agents to Nonwovens |
07-104 |
Development of Nanoclay Modified Fibers and Nonwovens |
07-105 |
Surface Engineering of Nonwoven Materials using Atomic Layer Deposition and Self-Assembled Nanolayers |
07-106 |
Functional Coatings Based on Adsorption-Denaturation of Proteins |
Selected NCRC Projects Completed
Project Number |
Project Title
|
91-01 |
Fundamentals of Thermal Point Bonding in Nonwovens |
91-02 |
A Materials Data Management System for Nonwovens |
91-03 |
Modeling of Mechanical Properties of Point-Bonded Fiberwebs |
91-04 |
Studies on Uniformity of Fiberweb Basis Weight and Structure |
91-05 |
Study of Forces Experienced by Individual Needles during Needlepunching |
91-05 |
Study of Needlepunching Process and Products |
91-06 |
Photometric Monitoring of Carding Element Loading |
91-07 |
Thermally Bonded Cellulosic Nonwovens – II |
91-08 |
Study of Needlepunch Products and Processes |
91-09 |
Micromechanics of Three-dimensional Fiberweb Nonwovens : Constitutive Equations |
91-10 |
Bond Strength and its Measurement in Nonwoven Fabrics |
92-12 |
Tomographic Approaches to Nonwovens Structure Definition |
92-13 |
Orientation Measurements in Fibrous Assemblies Using Image Analysis |
92-14 |
Application of FAST System in Nonwovens |
92-15 |
Chemomechanical Softening of Nonwovens |
92-16 |
Heat Barrier Properties of Nonwoven Fabrics |
92-17 |
Study of Carding Dynamics |
92-18 |
The effect of Bonding Parameters on the Properties of Thermal Point Bonded Polypropylene |
92-19 |
Constitutive Modeling of Spun Bonded Nonwovens |
93-20NC |
CIM in Nonwovens Manufacturing: Phase I. Application to Wet-Lay Web Forming Step |
93-21NC |
Tomography and Nonwovens |
93-22 NC |
Development of Thermal Insulation for Textile Wet Processing Equipment Using Needlepunched Nonwoven Fabrics |
93-23NC |
Hydroentangling Investigations Using Bleached and Unbleached Cotton Cardwebs |
94-24NC |
Design and Characterization of Geotextiles for High Performance Applications |
94-25NC |
Shear Precipitated Chitosan Powders, Fibrids, and Fibrid Papers |
94-26 |
Processing of Cotton and Cotton/Pulp Blends for Wet-laid Nonwovens using Novel Dispersion Technologies |
95-27 |
Evaluation of a One-Bath Process for Imparting Repellency and Antimicrobial Activity to Nonwoven Surgical Gown and Patient Drape Fabrics |
95-28 |
Probabilistic and Statistical Modeling for Geometric Structure of Nonwoven Fabrics |
95-29(NC) |
Hydroentangling Investigations Using Bleached and Unbleached Cotton Card Webs |
95-30(NC) |
Proprietary |
95-31(NC) |
Investigation of Thermal Bonding of Nonwoven Fiberwebs using IR Bonding |
95-32 |
Simulation and Image Processing of Nonwoven Fabrics |
95-33 |
Foamed Latex Bonding of Spunlace to Improve its Physical Properties |
95-34 |
Carding Dynamics: The Assessment of Cross Machine Uniformity of Carded Webs (currently available members only) |
95-35 |
Formation of Fiberweb from Staple Microfibers |
95-36 |
Fundamentals of Fiber Bonding in Thermally Point bonded Nonwovens |
95-37 |
Biaxial Tensile Testing of Nonwoven Textile Fabrics (on file NCRC) |
96-38(NC) |
Formation of 3D Meltblown Structures using Robotic Control of Fiber Deposition |
97-39 |
Prediction of Performance in Thermally Point Bonded Nonwovens |
97-39 |
The Effect of Processing Parameters on Mechanical Properties of Thermally Point Bonded PolyPropylene Nonwovens |
97-40 |
Role of Fiber Morphology in Thermal Bonding |
97-41 |
Stress and Structure Distribution in Thermally Point Bonded Nonwovens |
97-42 |
Fiber Crimp and Crimp Stability in Nonwoven Fabric Processes |
97-43 |
Fundamentals of Fiber in Water Dispersion |
97-44 |
Combination of Hydroentanglement and Foam Bonding Technologies for Wood Pulp and Polyester Fibers in Wet Lay Nonwoven Fabrics |
97-45A |
The Role of Fiber Finish in the Conversion of Fiber to Nonwovens |
97-45B |
Fundamentals of Spin Finish on Fibers |
99-46 |
The Impact of Input Energy, Fiber Properties, and Forming Wire on the Performance and Aesthetics of Hydroentangled Fabrics |
99-47 |
Influence of FiberTypes on Fiberweb Properties in High Speed Carding |
99-48 |
Intellegent Nonwovens: Engineered Stimuli-Sensitive Absorbent Properties |
00-49 |
In Plane Liquid Distribution in Nonwovens |
00-50 |
The manufacturing of wet-laid hydroentangled glass fiber composites for industrial applications |
01-51 |
Texture Classification in Hydroentangled Nonwovens |
01-52 |
3D SpaceNetâ Structures from Nonwovens |
01-53 |
Modeling Performance in Hydroentangled and Needled Nonwovens |
01-54 |
Modeling Performance in Hydroentangled and Needled Nonwovens |
01-55 |
The role of orifice design in hydroentanglement |
01-56 |
Surgical Face Masks Barrier Effectiveness: Influence of Construction and Finish |
02-57NC |
Biopolishing Cellulosic Nonwovens |
02-58 |
An Investigation of the Role of Cavitation on the Degradation of the Orifice Shape and Intact Length of Hydroentangling Water Jets |
02-59 |
Nanofiber Webs via Spunbonding and Meltblowing |
02-60 |
Modeling of Air Flow and Heat Transfer in the Through-Air Bonding Process |
02-61NC |
Incorporating Carbon Nano Tubes into Fibers |
03-62 |
Fundamentals of Melt-Spinning/Blowing Polymers Fabricated and/or Functionalized from Their Inclusion Compounds with Cyclodextrins |
03-63 |
Fexible, Multi-layered Thermal Barrier Material |
03-64 |
Inflluence of Material Variables in Thermal Bonding of Nonwovens |
03-65 |
Method for Measureing Static Potential on Moving Fabrics |
03-66 |
Simulating Liquid Flow Inside Nonwovens |
03-67NC |
Enzymatic Treatment of Cellulosic Fabrics |
03-68 |
Modeling of the Hydroentanglement Process |
04-69 |
Surface Modification of Fibers & Nonwovens with Melt Additives |
04-70 |
Filtration by Micro and Nano fiber Filters: Simulation and Experiments |
04-71 |
Structure-Process-Property Relationships in Nonwovens Made from Multi-Block Elastomers |
04-72 |
Development of Interfacial Adhesion during Thermal Bonding of Nonwovens |
04-73NC |
Structure & Properties of Micro & Nano fibers |
04-74NC-NTC |
Printing Conductive Inks on Nonwovens |
04-75NC |
Acoustical Absorptive Properties of Nonwovens |
05-76 |
Barrier Nonwoven fabrics with High Moisture Vapor Transfer Rate |
05-77 |
Hollow fiber Nonwoven Structures with Interconnected Pore Configuration |
05-78 |
Functional Nanofibers from Associative Polymers Using Electrospinning |
05-80 |
The Influence of Staple Fiber Preparatory Equipment on Web Quality |
05-81 |
Spreading and Deposition of Liquid Films and Drops in Fibrous Structures |
05-82NC |
Effect of Jet Strip Variables and Forming Wire on Fabric Quality |
06-83NC |
Modeling Calendered Fabrics and Their Permeability |
A non-core research program focuses on one or more of the above objectives but is carried out for an individual company. The single company sponsored programs can be proprietary and are made public only if the sponsoring company agrees. Non-core projects of special interest can also be developed for a group of NCRC member or affiliate companies. The results of such research are made public only if the sponsoring companies agree.
The Center carries out an active program of technology transfer supported by funds from the State of North Carolina and industrial members. This program seeks to disseminate technology developed by the Center along with existing knowledge of the management of materials and processes. Such programs are provided in the form of:
- training and assistance in the implementation of Center developed technology
- courses taught at plant sites
- workshops at the Center · industrial internships
- focused seminars, symposia, and conferences
- one-on-one consulting.
To carry out its research mission, NCRC seeks out talent at North Carolina State University as well as other universities such as Georgia Institute of Technology, Clemson University, University of Georgia, Loughborough University, University of Tennessee and others. Such cooperative research programs are undertaken by the faculty, staff, and students of these universities with the approval of the IAB.
