516th MEETING Of the NORTHEAST TENNESSEE SECTION

Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2000

Location: Northeast State Technical and Community College, Faculty/Staff/Guest Dining Room;

2425 Hwy 75, Blountville, TN

Speaker: Matthew Studholme, Universal Fiber Systems, LLC

Title: STAIN RESISTANCE OF NYLON FIBERS

Abstract: Nylon fiber is extensively used in carpeting and upholstery applications. It is often chosen over other fiber types such as polyesters and polyolefins due to its better balance of fiber properties and its superior wear performance. However, one of the major concerns with its use over the last 15 years has been its susceptibility to staining and discoloration from food or beverage spillages, in particular, from those containing natural or artificial colorants. The chemistry of the artificial and natural stains involved and the chemical and physical methods of stain protection of nylon fibers shall be discussed as part of the presentation.

Matthew Studholme is a British subject graduated from Loughborough University, UK in Polymer Science and carried out further studies at Manchester University, UK, in Polymer Engineering. He started his professional career with BP in 1985 in Wales working on lab synthesis and production scale up of specialty nylons. This research resulted in a patented reactive extrusion process for nylon polymerization. In 1989, after a temporary assignment as a production commissioning supervisor of BP's nitrile rubber polymerization facility, he was transferred to BP's Polymer Science Branch in Grangemouth, Scotland, to become research project leader for polymer blends. In late 1990 he started work for Cookson Group, plc, a multi-national specialist materials company. His work continued in polymer blends focussing on compatabilization through reactive processing. He became involved in consultancy for Cookson manufacturing facilities advising on polymer characterization and processing of nylons, polyesters and polyolefins. At the end of 1993 he was transferred to Cookson Fibers headquartered in Bristol, Virginia, where he has been ever since. His research work at Cookson Fibers has primarily been involved in the improvement of stain resistance of nylon fibers. Cookson recently sold its fiber business to private investors. The fibers business is now known as Universal Fiber Systems, LLC.