11/10/2025
By Kwok Fan Chow

The Kennedy College of Science, Department of Chemistry, invites you to attend a Ph.D. Research Proposal defense by Md. Al-Amin entitled “Enhancing Interfacial Adhesion and Multifunctionality in Electrospun Nonwoven-Textile Permeable System for Chem-Bio and Fire Protection.”

Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Location: Perry Hall Room 215
Time: 1 p.m.

Committee

  • Chair: Prof. Amir Ameli, Department of Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • James Whitten, Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Ramaswamy Nagarajan, Department of Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • James Reuther, Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract:
Traditional protective textiles often fail to provide durable chemical-biological (Chem-Bio) protection and flame retardancy (FR) while maintaining adequate comfort and breathability. Furthermore, integrating the protective layer with electrospun membrane on a textile substrate results in poor interfacial adhesion compromising the system's durability and efficacy under strenuous conditions. This Ph.D. research proposes to overcome these critical limitations by introducing a novel, highly durable, and permeable multifunctional nonwoven-textile composite system designed for superior integrated protection against chemical, biological, and thermal threats. The core innovation lies in engineering a material that couples the high surface activity of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for rapid chem-bio defense with effective Flame Retardant (FR) agents. These active components will be uniformly dispersed within an electrospun polymeric nonwoven membrane. This membrane will then be anchored to a textile substrate, such as Nylon/Cotton (Nyco) fabric. A major focus of the research involves developing specialized chemical and physical surface modification techniques to significantly enhance the interfacial adhesion and mechanical bonding between the electrospun layer and the textile, thereby guaranteeing operational durability against multiple laundering cycles. The experimental methodology will include optimizing the electrospinning parameters to tailor membrane morphology, porosity, and thickness, ensuring sufficient breathability and mass transfer. Comprehensive characterization will involve microscopic and thermal analysis. The functional performance will be rigorously evaluated through standardized testing, including assessment of chemical agent adsorption/degradation kinetics, and fire protection performance. This research is anticipated to deliver a groundbreaking protective system that sets a new benchmark in durability, breathability, and integrated protective multifunctionality to provide a transformative solution for military and emergency response personnel.

All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend.