Research Center Opens New Nonwovens Lab

The Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center’s (NCRC) Partners Lab at the North Carolina State University College of Textiles has opened. The new $12 million facility is the most comprehensive nonwoven-textiles lab in the world.

This new high-tech lab specializes in two state-of-the-art processes: melt spinning and hydroentangling. In melt spinning, thermoplastic polymers are heated and extruded, then cooled to create fabrics. Hydroentangling uses water jets that press fibers into knotted webs that don’t need bonding materials.

“This new facility shows the importance of the nonwovens industry not only in North Carolina but in the world,” said Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, professor of textile technology at NC State and director of the NCRC.

In North Carolina alone there are 29 nonwoven-textiles companies, with over $3 billion in annual sales. The United States leads the world in nonwoven-fabric technology and production, with 550 companies and annual sales of $38 billion. Examples of nonwovens are household wipes, interlining of men’s and women’s suits, face masks, surgical gowns, filters and many other applications. In the future, nonwovens will play an even greater role in fashion and upholstery. With new technologies being developed, and with the help of the new NCRC Partners Lab, NC State will be at the forefront of the effort to develop these new fabrics.

“The new facility is not only important to the university, but also to local industry,” said Terry O’Regan of Fruendenberg Inc., the largest nonwoven-textiles company in North Carolina. “This new laboratory allows our company to run trials and experiment with new polymers and new processes.”

Planning for the new facility began three years ago, led by Dr. Subhash Batra, the founder of NCRC, and Pourdeyhimi. NCRC currently has 34 member companies; Pourdeyhimi expects to extend the NCRC family to 50 companies in the next two years. “NCRC is dedicated to helping the nonwovens industry develop innovative products, ideas and materials. This facility is tomorrow’s technology,” Pourdeyhimi said.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox addresses the NCRC industry partners and guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony on May 28, 2002.  Along side are Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Director of NCRC, and Charlie Moreland, Vice Chanceloor of Research and Graduate Studies.

Photo by Roger Winstead