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The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture ANNUAL REPORTING FORM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Larry Wadsworth, Professor Emeritus Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science Annual Performance Period: January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 A. SUMMARY AND IMPACTS. 1. Summary. Provide an overall summary (500 words or less) of your accomplishments during the reporting period. Breathable Cotton-Surfaced Spunbond Nonwovens (CSNs) Efforts continue on the refinement and marketing of breathable monolithic (ML) film coated cotton-surfaced spunbond (SB) nonwovens (CSNs). Two large companies that provide medical protective apparel are working with The University of Tennessee (UTK) and Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. (formerly known as Noveon Inc.) to further refine CSNs as needed for preliminary marketing studies as hospital drapes, gowns and sterilization wraps. The ML film prevents the penetration of liquid born microorganisms and allows good moisture vapor transmission. The SB provides strength and cotton imparts more comfort and aesthetics. Improvement of Barrier and Comfort Properties of ePTFE Membranes and Composites It was found that electrostatic charging (EC) of finished and fluorochemical (FC) finished ePTFE membranes resulted in slightly decreased filtration efficiency (FE) to NaCl and DOP aerosols. However, the EC of laminates of ePTFE with spunbond (SB) polypropylene (PP) generally resulted in an increase in filtration efficiency (FE). With one laminate of SB PP/ePTFE/SB PP, EC resulted in a 7.3 fold decrease in penetration of 0.067ìm NaCl particles. This demonstrates that the of EC laminates of ePTFE and SB or melt blown (MB) PP fabrics promises to provide enhanced Warfighter protection with good breathability. Treatment of ePTFE film with one-atmosphere electrical plasma reduced the FE and EC treatment further reduced FE. Stationary EC treatment of ePTFE films alone was tried, as well, for different lengths of time; however, FE decreased notably with increasing EC treatment time. Membranes of ePTFE were stretched biaxially up to 2.2X at the Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films (CAEFF) Center, Clemson University using their T.M. Long stretcher, which is interfaced with a computer for more precise control of films during heating and stretching. These post-stretched ePTFE films were then EC also resulted in decreased FE with EC. It did not appear to make a difference whether or not the ePTFE film was treated with a FC prior to heat-stretching and EC. Nevertheless, the EC of laminates of ePTFE with SB or melt blown (MB) PP with heavier webs but with smaller diameter fibers for greater surface area appears to be a promising route for better aerosol FE coupled with more breathable ePTFE membranes. Development of Floating Row Covers Containing Phase-Change Chemical Materials for Frost Protection of Strawberry and Other Fruit Crops Spunbond polypropylene nonwoven fabric floating row cover fabric was treated with latex only and phase-change chemical materials (PCMs) consisting of an equal mixture of microencapsulated cotton seed oil and soybean oil and a latex to bind the PCMs onto the fabric and the effect of the treatments on modulating the temperature of the air between the row covers and strawberry plants in eastern Tennessee during the winter of 2005-2006 was measured. The effects of the treatments on the weight, thickness, light transmission, air permeability and strength properties before and after treatment and filed testing were also determined. The fabric without any treatment, compared to the control with no floating row cover, warmed up the row beds by 1 to 3°C. The use of PCMs with latex was found to result in 0.5 to 1°C warmer temperatures in the field test in addition to the 1 to 3°C rise obtained by the fabric alone. The physical attributes of the treated fabrics before and after the field test were also generally positive. The positive concept of using PCMs to provide freeze protection of strawberry crops, and possibly other food crops, was shown to be feasible and it was suggested that the positive effects could be further enhanced by decreasing the latex solids, increasing the amount of PCMs, by selectively applying the treatment to one side of the fabric directed towards the plants, and by using the treated covers more than one year. This concept also has positive implications for use in protective apparel and tents for soldiers and workers exposed to cold weather. 2. Impacts. List up to three significant impacts of your program. Impact statements should be one to three sentences and should be written in a way that would be meaningful to the public. A patent application was filed through the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) for the monolithic film coated CSNs and two companies are evaluating CSNs for commercialization potential. Research findings have been presented at international conferences and published in proceedings as well as in refereed journals. This product could increase the use of cotton and provide more comfortable and protective apparel for medical, industrial and military uses. The research on use of improved barrier and comfort properties of ePTFE has been disclosed to UTRF for review as a potential patent application and is being presented at the 2007 AATCC International Conference and Exposition with co-authors being UTK and U. S. Army Natick Soldier Center as co-authors. The addition of PCMs to crop cover fabrics should reduce frost damage to fruit and vegetable crops, lengthen the growing season and provide growers a means of selling fruit such as strawberries to the lucrative early season market. This technology also has positive implications as protective clothing and tents to protect personnel from cold weather. B. PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS (EXTENSION, RESEARCH AND TEACHING). As applicable, list title, names of participants (PIs, Leaders, Co-PIs, Co-leaders, Collaborators etc.), project number, sponsor, your role ( leader/co-leader/collaborator) and your percent effort on the project as stated in the project description or document. C. INSTRUCTION, TEACHING AND EXTENSION EDUCATION. Detail credit and non-credit instruction and teaching activities. 1. College credit instruction. List courses in which you were an instructor or guest lecturer during the current calendar year. Include special topics, independent study and internship courses. Provide course number and title, your involvement, semester(s), credit hours and number of students. Please append a summary of teaching evaluations (student and/or peer) if this information is available.
2. Formal continuing education (certification programs, seminar series, in-service training, field days, faculty and/or staff training, journal club, etc.). Provide descriptive title of activity, your involvement, number of participants or students involved, number and duration of each session.
3. Extension presentations and workshops. Indicate title, type, and scope of presentation; number of times presented; attendance estimates. Include evidence of effectiveness (e.g. evaluation summaries) where applicable.
4. Public addresses to lay audiences (TV/radio presentations, service groups, etc.). Indicate title, type, scope of presentation; number of times presented; attendance estimates. Include evidence of effectiveness (e.g. evaluation summaries) where applicable.
5. Presentations at professional meetings, without published abstracts. List presenter, co-authors (if any), title, date and name of meeting (list scientific oral or poster presentations having published abstracts or proceedings at D5). 6. Student mentoring. Fill in the boxes to indicate number of students in each category.
7. Student or commodity club activities (e.g. club advisor, team competitions, honor or professional societies, etc.). List the club or group; your role with the club or group; and the activities, honors or awards received by this group under your mentorship. 8. Other instructional and teaching activities. MSE 304 Principles of Materials Laboratory Spring to 3 undergraduates for 1 hour credit in Spring 2007 D. PUBLICATIONS. List only publications that were published during the annual reporting period (for #8, submitted during reporting period). Format citations as typical and appropriate for outlet. If a co-author(s) is a student or was working under your direct supervision, place an asterisk after that person's name. 1. Refereed articles or refereed reviews appearing in peer-reviewed professional journals. Wadsworth, L. C.*, C. E. Sams, D. E. Deyton, M. P. Bouchette, J. C. Cummins, and M. G. Kamath. 2007. Development of Floating Row Covers Containing Phase-change Chemical Materials for Frost Protection of Strawberry and Other Fruit Crops. Nonwoven and Technical Textiles, October-December 2007, P1-P7. 2. Book chapters or books. 3. Bulletins, reports, circulars, pamphlets, factsheets. 4. Popular press, trade, UTIA magazine or newsletter articles. Wadsworth, L. C. 2007. Book Review for The Handbook of Nonwoven Filter Media. Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 2 (1), (2007) (http://www.jeffjournal.org/). 5. Abstracts from scientific or discipline meetings, papers from conference proceedings, etc. Hayes, D. G., R. R. Gerhardt, and L. C. Wadsworth. 2007. LONG-LASTING INSECTICIDE-TREATED NETS FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND ALTERNATE APPROACHES TO THEIR PREPARATION. Proceedings of the Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC). Wadsworth, L. C., B. C. Guo, P. P. Tsai, F. Yan, X. M. Qian, and L. Y.. 2007. Melt Blown Filters for Face Masks and Indoor Filtration. RIM 2007, Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, October 24- 26, 2007 (CD-ROM). Wadsworth, L. C.*, B. C. Guo, P. P. Tsai, F. Yan, X. M. Qian, and L. Ya. 2007. Melt Blown Nonwovens for Industrial and Consumer Filtration Applications. Book of Papers CD ROM Advances in Textiles, Machinery, Nonwoven and Technical Textiles—ATNT 2007, Coimbatore, India, June 18-20, 2007. Wadsworth, L. C.*, C. A. Eash, R. M. Broughton, Jr., T. J. Groomes, and P. P. Tsai. 2007. Hig Performance Melt Blown Media from Liquid Crystalline Polymer. INDA Filtration 2007 International Conference & Exposition, Chicago, IL, November 13-15, 2007 (CD ROM). 6. Theses/Dissertations completed by students that you directed. 7. Other publications. 8. Articles submitted during the reporting period that are in review, in press or rejected. Please do not list articles in preparation. E. FUNDING. Format each entry as a citation, include as applicable: investigators (with percent effort shown on grant or contract document), title, source/agency. 1. Grant and contract proposals submitted but not awarded during this reporting period. Indicate date of submission and status (still pending, rejected). Hayes, D. G. (25%), L. C. Wadsworth (15%), Gerhardt, R. R. (10%), Kanath, M. G. (50%). Field-Deployable Treatment of Military Textiles to Provide Long-Term Protection from Biting Arthropo. (pre-proposal)US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Deployed War-Fighter Protection (DWPF) from Disease-Carrying Insects. Funding Opportunity Number W9113M-07-S-009. 9/13/07. $750,000. (rejected) 2. Grants and contracts awarded during this reporting period. List inclusive period of support (start and end dates) and total amount of award. Wadsworth, L. C. (70%), Tsai,P . P. (30%). More Breathable Electrostatically Charged ePTFE Film. U.S. Army Soldier Center. 6/1/07-7/31/07. $15,000. 3. Grants and contracts awarded in past years that continued into this reporting period. List inclusive period of support (start and end dates) and total amount of award. 4. Gifts. List recipients, donor, items or amount donated and dollar equivalent received during the reporting period. 5. Grant reports submitted. List authors, title, to whom submitted, date submitted. 6. Other (e.g. sales, royalties). F. OTHER CREATIVE ACTIVITIES.
G. SERVICE. List client outreach activities (both public and private sectors) and professional service.
H. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (meetings, workshops, classes, trips, etc.). List the event or activity, sponsor, duration of event and your role. I. PERSONNEL SUPERVISION. List the postdoctoral fellows, research associates, research assistants, technicians, extension associates, extension assistants, graduate assistants, undergraduate students, clerical personnel or others that you supervised during the year.
J. HONORS AND AWARDS. List honors and awards received during reporting period, including the name of the organization presenting the award. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||