Funding Secured for Sustainable Research Project by Wilson College Academic Staff Member
In a groundbreaking development, Associate Professor Ericka Ford at the Wilson College of Textiles is leading research that focuses on making carbon fiber production more sustainable and non-toxic. This research, supported by NCInnovation, is set to transform the textile sector, addressing a long-standing environmental challenge in the global industry.
Ford's innovative approach involves incorporating manganese additives into the carbon fiber production process. This change aims to reduce toxicity and improve sustainability, making carbon fibers safer and more suitable for textile applications. The research is conducted in the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science department and The Nonwovens Institute.
The Wilson College of Textiles is renowned for its commitment to research that powers a cleaner, more competitive future. The Associate Dean for Research recognises Ford's work as high-impact, real-world research, demonstrating the college's dedication to sustainable innovation.
The funding received will enable Ford to commercialize her research, potentially positioning North Carolina as a leader in sustainable innovation. Ford applied for the NCInnovation grants because she believed the technology could be profitable, particularly for acrylic fiber in protective clothing production used by the defense textiles community in North Carolina.
Carbon fiber, apart from being used in airplane construction and high-end recreational products like golf clubs, has the potential to greatly improve fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions by reducing the weight of vehicles if used instead of steel. This could be a significant step towards a greener future for the automotive industry.
Moreover, Ford's fiber manufacturing technology course aims to help students understand the basic fundamentals to create new processes in clothing and structural composites. By educating the next generation of textile engineers, Ford is ensuring that sustainable practices become an integral part of the industry.
The textile industry stands to benefit significantly from these advancements, as they enable the creation of fibrous materials that maintain high performance while minimising toxic byproducts. This aligns with the Wilson College of Textiles' broader mission to develop biomaterials that meet specific use requirements without compromising environmental safety.
As the research progresses, it is expected that more details about the mechanistic and process improvements will become available, further solidifying the Wilson College of Textiles' position as a hub for sustainable materials science within textile applications.
- Ericka Ford's research at the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science department and The Nonwovens Institute focuses on technology that makes carbon fiber production more sustainable and non-toxic.
- This research, supported by NCInnovation, aims to transform the textile sector by addressing a long-standing environmental challenge in the global industry.
- Ford's innovative approach involves incorporating manganese additives into the carbon fiber production process to reduce toxicity and improve sustainability.
- The Associate Dean for Research at the Wilson College of Textiles recognizes Ford's work as high-impact, real-world research, demonstrating the college's dedication to sustainable innovation.
- The funding received will enable Ford to commercialize her research, potentially positioning North Carolina as a leader in sustainable innovation.
- Ford applied for the NCInnovation grants because she believed the technology could be profitable, particularly for acrylic fiber in protective clothing production used by the defense textiles community in North Carolina.
- Carbon fiber, besides being used in airplane construction and high-end recreational products like golf clubs, has the potential to greatly improve fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions by reducing the weight of vehicles if used instead of steel, thus being a significant step towards a greener future for the automotive industry.
- Ford's fiber manufacturing technology course aims to help students understand the basic fundamentals to create new processes in clothing and structural composites, ensuring that sustainable practices become an integral part of the industry.
- As the research progresses, the Wilson College of Textiles is expected to become a hub for sustainable materials science within textile applications, with more details about the mechanistic and process improvements becoming available.
