April 06 2009
TEXAS TECH UNVEILS NEW $1.5 MILLION NONWOVENS LABORATORY
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health Unveils New Nonwoven Lab
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health
(TIEHH) at Texas Tech University introduced a
new, state-of-the-art fabric laboratory to help
researchers continue creating products that can
protect both military and civilian populations.
The 4,000-square-foot facility, named the
Nonwovens and Advanced Materials Laboratory, was
unveiled April 6. The new lab's air conditioning
and humidification system, contoured needlezone
needlepunching technology and thermal bonding
capability will allow for faster, more focused
research into nonwoven technologies.
Funding for the lab's $1.5 million cost included
$125,000 from Lubbock Economic Development
Alliance and nearly $1 million from the U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD) for the machinery.
Overall, nonwoven research at Texas Tech has
received $2.5 million in DoD funding.
"The opening of this unique manufacturing and
research facility is another big step forward for
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health
and for Texas Tech," said Kent Hance, chancellor
of Texas Tech University System. "I want to
acknowledge the efforts of Congressman Neugebauer
and the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance for
their understanding of benefits of this facility
and their assistance in funding it."
Texas Tech University now is the only academic
facility in the U.S. to have contoured needlezone
nonwoven technology, said Ron Kendall, director
of TIEHH.
"We are exclusive in the way we're set up here
with the unique needlepunch nonwoven technology
and access to cotton," Kendall said. "This
technology has been used successfully to develop
products such as our nonwoven decontamination
wipe, Fibertect. The need for decontamination
wipes, such as the kind we've created here at
TIEHH, were a top priority for the Department of
Defense. Years ago, we began the research,
developed a product and met a top national
security issue. Now we're going to continue that
research with this laboratory."
Seshadri Ramkumar, associate professor, lab
manager and Fibertect creator, said the new
nonwoven facility will help TIEHH to continue
top-quality research into protective fabrics and
other nonwoven materials. Fibertect is a
platform technology, and different fibers,
including natural fibers such as cotton, can be
used depending on applications and requirements,
Ramkumar said.
"One of the main focuses of this lab will be used
to develop new products from cotton and wool,
such as thermal and acoustic insulation pads, and
automotive and defense textiles," Ramkumar said.
"Our aim is to find value-added applications for
products made of cotton grown on the High Plains.
Surely, this nonwoven laboratory will help."
In December, Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory performed an evaluation of several
decontamination products including Fibertect.
The wipe tested features an activated carbon core
sandwiched between an absorbent polyester layer
on one side and absorbent cellulose on the other.
After testing with mustard gas and other toxic
chemicals, the results showed that the Texas
Tech-created dry fabric out-performed 30
different decontamination products, including
materials currently used in military
decontamination kits.
Research in natural fibers has been supported by
the Food and Fibers Research Grant program of the
Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas State
Support Program of Cotton Incorporated, The
Cotton Foundation, The CH Foundation of Lubbock,
Plains Cotton Growers Inc. and the USDA through
the International Cotton Research Center at Texas
Tech.
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health
develops environmental and health sciences
research and education at Texas Tech and Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center. The
institute's goal is to position Texas Tech as an
internationally recognized force in the
integration of environmental impact assessment of
toxic chemicals with human health consequences,
framed in the context of science-based risk
assessment to support sound environmental policy
and law.
