Polymer and Fiber Engineering
PETER SCHWARTZ, DEPARTMENT HEAD
The Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering's research includes protective materials, composite materials, engineered fibrous structures, extrusion, wet processing, fiber and fabric formation.
ANALYTICAL AND PHYSICAL TESTING LABORATORY
Equipment for analyzing fibers, polymers and fibrous assemblies includes a Perkin-Elmer FTIR for near-infrared and microscopical analysis and a CS-5 Chroma Sensor by Datacolor for color analysis and matching. The Advanced Fiber Information System measures lengths and diameters of individual fibers, quantity of neps, and percent of trash from a sample of staple fiber. The Uster MCI high-volume instrument determines the average properties of a fiber sample by measuring the micronaire, length, uniformity, strength, elongation, percent of trash, and color. A Uster Tensorapid III measures strength uniformity of yarns, testing from a package at five breaks/minute.
COMPOSITES LABORATORY
Research in the Composites Laboratory centers on fibrous structures for reinforcement and involves Auburn's polymer and fiber and materials engineering faculty plus faculty from Clemson and North Carolina State universities and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Computer predictions of performance are verified by using resin transfer molding equipment, and braiding, polishing, and imaging equipment to analyze composite morphology.
DYEING AND FINISHING LABORATORY
The Dyeing and Finishing Laboratory has batch dyeing machines (one is programmable), and Calloway slashing equipment for yarn coating and sizing. Researchers are working on advanced oxidation processes (ozone and ultraviolet/peroxide) for processing dye waste to recycle water and chemicals.
EXTRUSION LABORATORY
Research-scale equipment is used for melt extrusion and solution spinning of fibers. A complete fiber manufacturing line consists of melt extrusion equipment for thermoplastic polymers with draw winding. Other equipment includes laboratory-scale solution spinning lines; one can produce fibers from less than one gram of polymer. Research on fiber formation from renewable resources involves a team from Auburn, Clemson and North Carolina State universities.
FABRIC FORMATION LABORATORY
Weaving machinery includes a Sulzer-Ruti air-jet machine, a Sulzer projectile loom, and a Piconol rapier loom. Research looms and braiding machines are used to design and form fabrics for reinforcing composites, stents, and tethers.
GEOTEXTILES LABORATORY
The Departments of Polymer and Fiber and Civil Engineering are researching fabrics designed to reinforce soil structures. Equipment includes a 20,000-pound Instron and soil containment box for measuring soil-fabric force.
NONWOVENS LABORATORY
This laboratory for creating batts and webs for nonwoven fabric formation includes a Rando Model "C" for air-laid webs, a roller-top card and crosslapper, a through-air oven for thermal bonding, needle-punching equipment, a heated calendar, and instruments to measure thermal conductivity. The laboratory, which can handle special fibers such as carbon and ceramic, has designed carbon fiber blends for specific radar absorption properties.
YARN FORMATION LABORATORY
Production-scale equipment can produce yarns from staple fibers, and equipment for opening, cleaning, carding, and drawing can prepare staple fibers for ring, open-end, or air-jet spinning. Researchers investigated the effect of fiber properties on spinning characteristics and yarn properties. Studies also included real-time correlation of spinning tension with sliver- and yarn-weight variation.
