2021-2022 Senior Design Projects

Sponsor

Avec

Team Members

Ryan Darden, Marissa Noon, Robert Seevers

Project Description

Avec aims to create and manufacture a sock that improves the balance, posture and performance of the body through the realignment of the ankle and foot. Such a sock would be truly novel and proprietary and would have such applications as helping the elderly with balance and reducing the incidence of falls, those in pain through the better alignment of the body and athletes who wish to add to their sports performance.

The challenge with this wrap technology as a wrap is that it needs to be done with certain tape in a certain manner every day and in our experience clients were lax in doing so and there were errors in its application. As a result, we decided to incorporate this technology into a sock to increase the reach of this technology to a greater population as well as improving the ease and consistency of its wear. It is this wrap technology that is the crux of our project though we are also looking into other technologies and ways to further experience the wearing experience in promoting balance, posture and performance.

The team is tasked with exploring different knit structures, fabrics and technologies to both improve the effectiveness of the wrap technology but also to add other features to the sock that can add to our goal of a sock which improves balance, posture and performance. Furthermore, style, comfort, and feel are critical pillars to developing a market-ready product.

Sponsor

PVH

Team

Molly Humphrey, Claire Henson, Chenlu Hou, Yu Yan

Project Description

At PVH, whose brands include Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger , our goal is to prolong the life of apparel that cannot be resold or recycled. Collected used clothing is likely to contain elastane, blended materials, coatings, and multi-components as well as some contamination from consumer use so they are not easily recyclable in existing streams. For this project, we would like to find high value next uses for underwear made from semi-synthetic and synthetic-blend textiles that contain elastane. The process must use environmentally friendly processing, handle post-consumer contamination, and be implementable in the near term (2 years). 

Deliverables should include suggested product solutions, prototypes, and a survey of the capacity to manufacture suggested solutions. We prefer solutions that are textile, trims, or material components PVH can incorporate in product and sell but are not limited to these. Some examples are downcycling mixed material underwear into composite trims like a belt buckle or non-wovens like bra padding. We are interested in identifying creative solutions that could be implemented in near term and serve as a stepping stone toward fully circular material usage.

Sponsor

The North Face

Team

Jacqueline Ashford-Lavy, Brandon Postema-Drolet, Chris Watts

Project Description

The project scope will be centralized around finding an alternative to the traditional ripstop construction using different dobby shapes, that performs the same or exceeds it in physical testing. The students will research and then develop different types of designs on synthetic fabrics to find the best suited option to replace our square ripstop construction. After the fabrics are developed, they will then test to our TNF specifications to evaluate if any of their constructions will perform comparatively or better than what we use in most of our products.

Sponsor

Under Armour

Team

Stephanie Gongora, Bernie Igba, Rachel Klenke, Alyssa Phan

Project Description

This project will entail identifying and quantifying performance benefits and potential end uses for a novel recyclable fiber chemistry. Applications range across apparel footwear and accessories. This polymer theoretically follows an atypical stress-strain curve and possesses enhanced chemical resistance. The novelty of this fiber may make traditional pattern making difficult and may need to be addressed in this project.

Sponsor

Stryker

Team

Kezia Johnson, Tashana Flewwellin, Nick Dimarco

Project Description

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, is driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in Orthopedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. Within the Soft Goods Research and Development team, we are focused on pressure injury prevention within Emergency and Acute (hospital) Care.

Visual Brand Language (VBL) is an important part of the products Stryker designs and develops to offer our customers a product experience that is most appropriate for both patients and caregivers. Stryker’s VBL goal is to promote our brand identity while also offering visual and graphical cues about what the product does and how it should be used. When considering our portfolio of support surfaces (mattresses), VBL has been included in the past utilizing silk-screening, sublimation, and inkjet printing on the mattress cover. Increases in the concentration of chemicals used to clean and remove pathogens from the mattress have made it difficult to include VBL, so most of our current support surface products do not have VBL on them other than top and bottom cover color.

This project is intended to have Senior Design students investigate and propose a commercially viable method or methods for communicating Stryker’s VBL on our breathable, durable, urethane-coated mattress covers that doesn’t damage the cover or degrade over time and use. The materials used for the cover are in scope, as well as the method for printing.

Sponsor

Lear Corp.

Team

Jessica Hoover, Arabella Ball, Emma Tilley

Project Description

Lear, a global automotive technology leader in seating and e-systems, is making every drive betterTM by delivering intelligent in-vehicle experiences for customers around the world. The use of renewable resources is a valuable and pragmatic component within Lear Corporation’s sustainability strategy. The goal of this project is to compare virgin, recycled, bio-degradable, and bio-based polyesters for automotive textiles. Which of these fibers has the best sustainable, cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)? The team will produce samples of the top fibers to characterize and assess performance.

Sponsor

U.S. Army Pine Bluff Arsenal

Team

Maddie Wilson, Owen Lindey, Gunikka Ahuja

Project Description

The US Army has established a 15 person production line for clothing and textile products at their Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA) facility to manufacture short production runs which are too small for standard industry partnerships. The facility is flexible in its production capability. One such product this facility produces is Chemical Protective and Flame Resistant clothing (coveralls and smocks) using PyrolonTM or similar material. PyrolonTM does not appear to be launderable and is good for 3-7 uses.

The team is tasked with recommending a launderable, flame resistant material(s) which can prevent hexachloroethane from making contact with skin and clothing. Additionally, the team will investigate industry best practices for quality control during garment construction such as stitch and seam inspection. PBA will work with the team to manufacture coveralls and smocks and will test production at their facility.

Sponsor

Cortland

Team

Sarah Park, Garyn Levitan, Allison Stephan

Project Description

Curiosity is at the core of Cortland Biomedical. This year, we are curious about integrating metal components into polymeric-based biomedical textiles. We want to explore advantages, structural opportunities, and the novel mechanical properties of a metal-polymer hybrid textile. The team will investigate concurrent processing of metallic components into various knit and woven textile structures, assess optimal post-processing strategies, and evaluate mechanical properties to help predict final performance in a medical device.

Sponsor

Hanesbrands

Team

Bailey Bush, Rachel Argabright, Laura Potok

Project Description

Natural dyes can come from numerous sources. They have been prevalent in the textile industry for centuries and have had a recent resurgence as they align closely with industry sustainability initiatives. This project team will work with Hanesbrands Inc to identify food/essential oil by-products as a base for dyeing fabric and/or garments. Ensuring the term “natural” is a benefit to the environment and a sustainability story.

Sponsor

Hanesbrands

Team

Hannah Crow, Emma Glover, Delaney Joyce, Tiffany Jones

Project Description

Mental and physical well-being has long been a consumer need. Due to the challenges of COVID-19 there has been a greater focus to deliver products that can improve a consumer’s wellbeing. This project team will work with Hanesbrands Inc to investigate finishes and fibers with inherent properties that provide enhanced wellness benefits to our family of brands.

Sponsor

Teijin Aramid and Red Bull 

Team

Ryan Cherry, Emily Petersen, Sean Fijen

Project Description

The world of motorsports encompasses several variations of motorized vehicles. It is a daring and adventurous sport. Yet how can athletes or motor sport enthusiasts be sure to protect themselves while racing at high speeds? Aramid is the strongest fiber in the world but is it being used optimally in these sporting applications ? Aramid’s high price tag makes it nearly impossible to compete in this space therefore, a sustainable solution must be met. The team’s goal will be to achieve an abrasive resistant textile utilizing sustainable aramid and/or high performance materials. Teijin aramid will assist the team to obtain these recycled materials for concept evaluation. Students will take the baseline fabric and analyze how to improve comfort, abrasion resistance, and minimize cost impact by creating a second life to our aramid products.

Sponsor

Gildan

Team

Ruiying Zhu, Cecilia Huynh, Dane Hunt, Derek Summers

Project Description

Durability of garments, particularly socks, has been a long standing feature for customer value. However, the real-life correlation and application of common test methods has been elusive. The goal of this project is to create a durability indicator by defining and designing a wear experience correlation to current lab testing (AATCC, ASTM, Martindale) for the leading fiber and knit constructions in the market. There will also be a cost/value component to the findings.

Sponsor

ATHify

Team

Kayla Wyatt, Emily Odykirk, Jessica Schwendeman

Project Description

Using flexible printed heaters in combination with pliable substrates such as polyester (PE), polyamide (PI) or thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) which are typically found in battery-operated heated vests and jackets, and placing them in areas where stiff and sore muscles are prevalent (Ex. placing heating coils in the quad and hamstring area of leggings/tights). This helps to open sore muscles and improve circulation. It also allows for more oxygen and nutrients to reach your muscles and simultaneously removes lactic acid, which is essential for muscle healing. It can also be used before and during workouts as a way to loosen/warm-up muscles before exercise and in-between sets.