
Richard Kotek
Associate Professor, TECS
Polymer and Color Chemistry
Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
- Office: College of Textiles 3143
- Phone: 919-515-6585
- Email: rkotek@ncsu.edu
About Richard Kotek
- Expertise ·
- Research ·
- Publications ·
- Grants ·
- Teaching
Professor Kotek graduated from the Man-Made Fibers Institute at Lodz Polytechnic in Poland where he specialized in man-made fiber technology and polymer chemistry. He developed flame-retardant polyester fibers and completed his Ph. D. thesis under the direction of Professor B. Laszkiewicz.
Following completion of his Ph. D., he worked at the Man-Made Fibers Institute and then came to the United States to work as a postdoctoral research associate for Professor W. R. Krigbaum at Duke University.
While with Professor Krigbaum, Dr. Kotek carried out a liquid crystalline polymer research program. His work involved a new monomer and polymer synthesis. Soon after completing his postdoctoral assignment, he joined the R&D department at BASF Corporation (where he gained valuable industrial experience). He was involved in expanding fundamental understanding of spinning processes and also carried out studies on fiber morphology and molecular orientation. He developed and patented a new semi-continuous process for the depolymerization of nylon 6 polymer. Dr. Kotek also holds patents for making hollow fibers. He has extensive experience in fiber extrusion, particularly nylon and polyester fibers.
Dr. Kotek joined the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University in August 1999.
He is married and has two children, Magdalena and Kristof.
His wife, Elizabeth, is a licensed mechanical engineer practicing in the Triangle. Magdalena is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and Kristof is a student at Athens Drive High School.
Dr. Kotek enjoys reading and playing tennis and golf. He is a youth soccer coach.
Research
Dr. Kotek is a polymer chemist with an interest in fundamental research on the structure/property, processing, and manufacturing (or synthesis) of fiber forming polymers particularly:
- Biopolymers and liquid crystalline polymers for specialized end uses.
- Nylon, polyester and polypropylene for use in industrial applications
- Fundamental research on the formation of hollow fibers.
- Molecular orientation of complex filaments by using sound propagation techniques.
- Adhesion of polymer melts to metal surfaces.
- Efficient depolymerization and/or recovery of monomers from fibrous materials.
Publications
- Experimental study on texturability of filament yarns produced from recycled PET
- Abbasi, M., Mojtahedi, M. R. M., & Kotek, R. (2020), TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517520925859
- Effects of drawing process on crimp formation-ability of side-by-side bicomponent filament yarns produced from recycled, fiber-grade and bottle-grade PET
- Abbasi, M., & Kotek, R. (2019), JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2019.1611523
- Mechanical properties of PTT fibers by sustainable horizontal isothermal bath process
- Najafi, M., & Kotek, R. (2019), SN APPLIED SCIENCES, 1(10). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1198-5
- Melt-spun PLA liquid-filled fibers: physical, morphological, and thermal properties
- Naeimirad, M., Zadhoush, A., Neisiany, R. E., Salimian, S., & Kotek, R. (2019), JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE, 110(1), 89–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2018.1465336
- Novel Membranes Regenerated from Blends of Cellulose/Gluten Using Ethylenediamine/Potassium Thiocyanate Solvent System
- Yu, Y., Boy, R., & Kotek, R. (2019), JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE MATERIALS, 7(1), 41–55. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2019.00105
- A Review of Cellulose and Cellulose Blends for Preparation of Bio-derived and Conventional Membranes, Nanostructured Thin Films, and Composites
- Douglass, E. F., Avci, H., Boy, R., Rojas, O. J., & Kotek, R. (2018), Polymer Reviews, 58(1), 102–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583724.2016.1269124
- A review on aerogel: 3D nanoporous structured fillers in polymer-based nanocomposites
- Salimian, S., Zadhoush, A., Naeimirad, M., Kotek, R., & Ramakrishna, S. (2018), POLYMER COMPOSITES, 39(10), 3383–3408. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.24412
- Recent advances in core/shell bicomponent fibers and nanofibers: A review
- Naeimirad, M., Zadhoush, A., Kotek, R., Neisiany, R. E., Khorasani, S. N., & Ramakrishna, S. (2018). [Review of , ]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 135(21). https://doi.org/10.1002/app.46265
- Development of high-tenacity, high-modulus poly(ethylene terephthalate) filaments via a next generation wet-melt-spinning process
- Yoon, J. H., Avci, H., Najafi, M., Nasri, L., Hudson, S. M., & Kotek, R. (2017), Polymer Engineering and Science, 57(2), 224–230. https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.24406
- Production of polyolefins
- Kotek, R., Afshari, M., Avci, H., & Najafi, M. (2017), Polyolefin Fibres: Structure, Properties and Industrial Applications, 2nd Edition, 189–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-101132-4.00007-2
Grants
- hIB MELT SPINNING PROCESS for PRODUCTION of ULTRA-HIGH TENACITY NYLON 6 TECHNICAL YARNS
- Honeywell International, Inc.(8/15/15 - 4/15/16)
- hIB Melt Spun/Melt Ordered Process for Production of Ultra-High Tenacity/Modulus Pet Technical Yarns
- Truetzschler Group(11/01/15 - 12/31/16)
- Understanding Macro-Structural Differences of a Nike Provided Set of Sport Knit T-Shirt Fabrics
- Nike, Inc.(5/01/14 - 8/31/15)
- Development of Solvent Systems and Product Screening Samples In Support of High Soy Protein Content Cellulose Fibers
- NC Soybean Producers Association, Inc.(11/30/-1 - 6/30/12)
- Development of Solvent Systems and Product Screening Samples In Support of High Soy Protein Content Cellulose Fibers
- NC Soybean Producers Association, Inc.(12/01/09 - 12/01/10)
- Novel Melt Spun/Melt Ordered Process for Producing High Performance Polyester Fibers
- Atex Technologies, Inc.(11/30/-1 - 8/31/12)
- New Dynamics Controlled Melt Spun/Melt Ordered Process Yielding Ultra-High Tenacity/Modulous Fibers
- SwissTex Filament Yarn Technologies(11/30/-1 - 12/31/12)
- The National Textile Center: High Modulus Aliphatic Nylon Fibers via Lewis-Acid Complexation (M05-NS05)
- NCSU National Textile Center Program(4/01/08 - 3/31/09)
- Preparation and Characterization of Cellulose Microcellular Foams for Pigment Applications
- NCSU Faculty Research & Professional Development Fund(7/01/08 - 6/30/09)
- Production of New Biocidal Textiles Using Advanced Nano and Melt Spinning Techniques
- National Science Foundation (NSF)(9/01/08 - 8/31/10)
Teaching
- TC461 - Laboratory Exercises for Fiber Forming Polymers ,