Jon Rust PhD
Distinguished UG Professor
Textiles Complex 3306
Bio
Dr. Rust has co-authored more than thirty published peer-reviewed research articles and is a co-inventor on eight patents and one pending patent application. Prior to being named Department Head, from 1992 through 2008, Dr. Rust worked in the textile industry for a diverse group of textile companies during the summer leading teams of students on process improvement projects. He is currently a member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists and the American Society for Engineering Education.
Research
Dr. Rust’s research interests include the broad area of short staple yarn manufacturing. Past successful research projects have dealt with: process controls in drawframe autolevelling, novel sensing and control in carding, HVI cotton fiber property measurement and significance, roller-drafting and autoleveling at carding (includes 4 patents with Dr. T. Clapp), moisture control in staple spinning, ginning technology development, and novel fiber instrumentation.
His current and projected future projects will be related t further development of roller-drafting and autoleveling technology at carding, continued carding development in control and improved sliver quality, development of novel ginning technology, further development of novel fiber instrumentation for measuring several important cotton fiber properties, and in-plant cleaning and moisture control.
Teaching
- TE 201L – Textile Engineering Science
- TMS 211L – Introduction to Fiber Science
- TE 301 – Engineering Textile Structures I: Linear Assemblies
- TT 402 – Textile Engineering Design II
Education
B.S. Mechanical Engineering Clemson University 1982
M.S. Fiber Science Clemson University 1985
PhD. Fiber and Polymer Science North Carolina State University 1990
Area(s) of Expertise
Fiber Science
Polymer Science
Polymer/Fiber/Textile Processing
Publications
- The development of an in vitro test method for predicting the abrasion resistance of textile and metal components of endovascular stent grafts , Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B, Applied Biomaterials (2014)
- Fatigue cracking resistance of fiber-reinforced asphalt concrete , Textile Research Journal (2005)
- Mutual support: CAC programs and institutional improvement in undergraduate education , Language and Learning Across the Disciplines (2003)
- Effects of feed sliver moisture content on rotor spinning performance and rotor spun yarn properties , Textile Research Journal (2001)
- Fiber Length Measurement by Image Processing , Textile Research Journal (2001)
- Dealing with fiber crossovers in fiber length measurements by image processing , Thirteenth annual Engineered Fiber Selection System Conference proceedings: April 17-19, 2000, Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, Research Triangle Park, NC (2000)
- Fabric softness classification using linear and nonlinear models , Textile Research Journal (2000)
- Yarn quality indexing using a mechanical stylus , Textile Research Journal (1999)
- Balloon irregularities in ring spinning , Journal of the Textile Institute (1998)
- Draftless silver coiler packaging system for automated textile drafting system , (1998)
Grants
This research is focused on assisting the University of California, San Diego team with fabric test services, analysis and interpretion of the test data, consultation in perfecting the fabric design and identifying alternative methods and/or materials. He will lead the NC State team in developing best methods for testing of the fabrics created by UC San Diego including the Q-test Constant Rate of Tensile Test machine, air permeability test apparatus, the Martindale Pilling and Abrasion Tester, the Sweating Hot plate and the Kawabata Evaluation System.
This Fabrication Service will focus on the following laboratories. 1. Nonwovens Fiber Science Laboratory, 2. TECS Forensic Textile Analytical Laboratory 3. Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) laboratories including: spinning, weaving, knitting and dyeing and finishing laboratories. Fabrications services will include creating novel filament through the Nonwovens Institute and subsequently texturing and cutting the fiber. The staple will then be blended and the fiber blends converted to spun yarn. The yarns will subsequently be sized and woven into fabric on the CCI sample loom in the ZTE Weaving Laboratory. Other fabrication services may include knitting the yarns. Testing services may include the TECS Forensic Textile Analytical Laboratory as well as the ZTE Physical Testing Laboratory.
High strength, high modulus fibers are of importance for structural applications. The microstructures of these fibers comprise densely packed chains of highly aligned polymer [1], which yields them such high mechanical performance. Substantial deviations from the theoretical values of stiffness have been attributed to the presence of disordered polymer, voids, and residual solvent- especially in the case of solution spun fibers [2]. The incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer has resulted in the fabrication of stronger, stiffer fibers; nevertheless, there still remains room to improve their mechanical properties even further. My previous research described the presence of a polymer interphase that is well-ordered and strongly adhered to the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) [3]. Although that phase is expected to strengthen fibers spun by the gel spinning technique, there remains a less desirable phase of solvent along SWNTs (represented in Figure 1) that will adversely influence the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Since aligned CNTs were shown to direct the orientation of residual solvent more easily than poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydroxyl groups,[3] the overall mechanical performance of polymer nanocomposites would increase if the solvent interphase could polymerize and adjoin CNTs with the bulk polymer phase. Furthermore, the solidification of residual solvent would reduce voids in the fiber structure. Therefore, I propose the novel use of reactive diluents as co-solvents to strengthen solution spun polymer nanocomposite fibers. Studies will begin with PVA, but these will continue to include the fabrication of strong, light-weight fibers using other polymers.
Evaluate properties of proposed tricomponent fiber.
The objectives of this project are to: 1. Develop a portable pneumatic splicing system for heavy denier continuous filament yarns 2. Optimize the pneumatic splice configuration that provide the least structure changes of woven fabric 
In order to move forward with this idea to the best of our ability, we need to accomplish the following tasks that we shall refer to as Phase I: 1. Complete a thorough review of the patent literature and technology. This would include utilizing University resources in terms of patent attorneys and professionals along with our own expertise and experience in searching the literature for prior art. 2. Spend significant time establishing a clear set of criteria and constraints including all expected long-term and short-term system deliverables. 3. Build a small-scale apparatus that would allow field testing to analyze: where is the field strongest; what is the range of field strengths for various transformer sizes, shapes and power usage; and what is the potential opportunity in terms of watts.