
Steve Michielsen
Professor, TECS,
Director of Ph.D. Programs
Polymer and Color Chemistry
Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
Textile Technology
- Office: College of Textiles 3261
- Phone: 919-515-1414
- Email: smichie@ncsu.edu
About Steve Michielsen
- Expertise ·
- Research ·
- Academic Degrees ·
- Publications ·
- Grants ·
- Organizations ·
- Teaching
Dr. Michielsen received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1979 working with Prof. Stuart A. Rice. He did a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Chemistry Department at Stanford University under the direction of Prof. Robert Pecora. He then joined DuPont at the Experimental Station in the Polymer Products Department in 1980. In 1990, he moved to DuPont Fibers. Then in 1995, he joined the faculty of the School of Textile and Fiber Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 2004, he moved to North Carolina State University in the Department of Textile and Apparel Technology and Management and then in 2008, he moved to the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science in the Wilson College of Textiles, where he resides today.
Prof. Michielsen invented an antiviral fabric with collaborators at Emory University (Atlanta, GA) and formed a spinoff company, LaamScience, where he served on the Board of Directors and Chairman.
His current research involves bloodstain pattern analysis BPA on textiles (forensics) and surface modification of fibers for a wide range of applications including medical textiles, superhydrophobic materials, antimicrobial textiles, and enzyme immobilized textiles. Dr. Michielsen emphasizes the theoretical understanding of physical and chemical phenomena on textiles combined with experimental verification and extension of these theories. His work on BPA is aimed at understanding how wetting of textiles with blood alters the stain patterns. This requires a detailed knowledge of the properties and construction of the textiles, wetting and wicking, and the behavior of blood in contact with surfaces.
Research
Forensics
In this work, we apply porcine blood to textiles and monitor the change in shape of the stain over time. For this we simultaneously video the stain on the front and back of the textile and then use image processing to extract size and shape over time. We also carefully characterize or construct the fabric and yarn construction. This allows us to obtain a detailed picture of the interaction of blood with the textile.
Surface modification
Surface modification of polymers, nanotechnology, smart polymers, structure/property/process relationships, polymer physics. In particular, we try to covalently bond 1-10 nm thick coatings onto polymeric surfaces to introduce new functionality. My research group has developed antimicrobial treatments, and superhydrophobic materials (with water contact angles as high as 178 degrees). We have increased surface electrical charges, dye-sites, and stain resistance. We are currently working to attach enzymes to the surface in an attempt to create nanofactories. Of particular interest is the interplay of materials science with polymer physics using polymer chemistry to impart the desired functionality.
Academic Degrees
- Ph. D. Physical Chemistry, University of Chicago, 1979
- B.S. Chemistry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1972
Publications
- Impact of carpet construction on fluid penetration: The case of blood
- Feng, C. C., Michielsen, S., & Attinger, D. (2018), Forensic Science International, 284, 184–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.01.009
- Profile of capillary bridges between two vertically stacked cylindrical fibers under gravitational effect
- Sun, X. H., Lee, H. J., Michielsen, S., & Wilusz, E. (2018), Applied Surface Science, 441, 791–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.02.109
- Design of abrasion resistant super-antiwetting nylon surfaces
- Li, G. Q., Lee, H. J., & Michielsen, S. (2017), New Journal of Chemistry, 41(22), 13593–13599. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7nj02807e
- Effect of yarn structure on wicking and its impact on bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) on woven cotton fabrics
- Li, X. Y., Li, J. Y., & Michielsen, S. (2017), Forensic Science International, 276, 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.04.011
- Geometric impact of void space in woven fabrics on oil resistance or repellency
- Lim, J., Powell, N., Lee, H., & Michielsen, S. (2017), Journal of Materials Science, 52(13), 8149–8158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1022-9
- Alternative method for determining the original drop volume of bloodstains on knit fabrics
- Li, J. Y., Li, X. Y., & Michielsen, S. (2016), Forensic Science International, 263, 194–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.018
- Effect of fabric mounting method and backing material on bloodstain patterns of drip stains on textiles
- Chang, J. Y. M., & Michielsen, S. (2016), International Journal of Legal Medicine, 130(3), 649–659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-015-1314-z
- Impact dynamics of porcine drip bloodstains on fabrics
- Williams, E. M. P., Dodds, M., Taylor, M. C., Li, J. Y., & Michielsen, S. (2016), Forensic Science International, 262, 66–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.037
- Integration of yarn compression in modeling structural geometry of liquid resistant-repellent fabric surfaces and its impact on liquid behavior
- Lim, J., Powell, N., Lee, H., & Michielsen, S. (2016), Journal of Materials Science, 51(15), 7199–7210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0001-x
- Nitrogen: phosphorous supply ratio and allometry in five alpine plant species
- Luo, X., Mazer, S. J., Guo, H., Zhang, N., Weiner, J., & Hu, S. J. (2016), Ecology and Evolution, 6(24), 8881–8892. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2587
Grants
- Physical Characteristics of Spatter Stains on Textiles: Influence of Impact Surface Texture, Blood Drop Volume and Blood Drop Velocity
- National Institute of Justice(1/01/19 - 12/31/20)
- Development of Moisture Channeling Textiles
- US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)(6/26/17 - 12/23/17)
- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis on Textiles: A Technology Transition Workshop
- National Institute of Justice(6/15/17 - 9/30/18)
- Arsenic Treatment of Contaminated Water Using Surface-Functionalized Fabrics
- NCSU Center for Human Health and the Environment(7/01/16 - 6/30/17)
- Finding the Region of Origin of Bloodspatters in Complex Situations: Novel Physics-Based Methods and Tools
- National Institute of Justice(1/01/15 - 12/31/17)
- Transfer of Bloodstains from Textile Surfaces: A Fundamental Analysis
- National Institute of Justice(1/01/15 - 12/31/17)
- Antistain Carpet
- DESSO(4/01/12 - 3/31/13)
- Bloodstain Patterns on Textile Surfaces: A Fundamental Analysis
- National Institute of Justice(10/01/12 - 10/31/14)
- Durable Antistatic Polyester
- Kingwhale(5/01/11 - 4/30/12)
- Development of Robust CWA Repellent Fabric via Enhanced Superoleophobic Technology
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)(5/14/12 - 7/13/14)
Organizations
- The Fiber Society - Treasurer
- American Chemical Society - Treasurer
- American Physical Society - Treasurer
Teaching
- TT 105 - Introduction to Textiles ,
- TT 341 - Knitted Fabric Technology ,
- TMS 762 - Physical Properties of Fiber Forming Polymers, Fibers and Fibrous Structures ,
Additional Information
Students
Jingyao Li
Koushek Heda
Chengcheng Fang
Ruksana Baby
Shuming
Wenbo Liu
Xiongfang Luo
Xiaolu Guo
Nguyen Vu
Jiaying Wu
Lu Liu
Edmir Silva
Guoqing Li
Yue Zhu
Graduate Projects
Superoleophobic Textiles
Wetting Behavior of Single Fibers
Surface Modification of Polymers
Enzyme Immobilization on Fiber Surfaces
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis on Textile Substrates
Artificial Blood
Transfer of Bloodstains from Fabric to Fabric