Cocona founder receives AATCC TCR Service award

An active AATCC member, Haggquist developed two novel drying rate test methods, AATCC TM200 and TM201. These methods directly measure the drying rates of textiles by using either heat or air as the driving force, simulating the actual usage conditions for apparel or household products.

Haggquist holds a BS in chemistry from the University of Connecticut and PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Nevada. He was a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellow at Kyoto University and a Norwegian Postdoctoral Fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. His postdoctoral work in Japan and Norway was on understanding the energy dynamics within polymeric systems used to create artificial photosynthetic systems. He then worked at the Air Force weapons laboratory on the development of a gas phase high energy laser.

Following that, he worked for TPL Inc., developing dielectric composites for high energy density storage. Haggquist then went to work for Lexmark International, developing composite materials used in photo-conductor drums, ink jet formulations, and novel testing equipment to elucidate performance properties of composites. In 2000, Haggquist co-founded TrapTek LLC, later called Cocona Inc., and invented several processes to produce the materials now known as Cocona technology.

Haggquist’s research has been directed at making and understanding novel composite materials with unique physical properties. His work includes not only the invention of novel materials, but also novel testing methods to allow for a greater understanding of the material properties.

Haggquist lives in Boulder, CO, USA, with his wife, Amy Sneddon Haggquist, and two children, Jack and Isabelle. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys golfing, hiking, skiing, and fly fishing.   

The Technical Committee on Research Service Award was established in 2008 to recognize those members who have contributed greatly to the AATCC organization in a technical capacity. Senior members of the Association with at least five years of continuous membership in AATCC, who have contributed outstanding technical service to the Association through activity in a research committee, are eligible. 

Selection is by unanimous choice of the TCR Service Award Committee composed of the current Chair of Technical Committee on Research (TCR), Vice Chair of TCR, Chair of the Executive Committee on Research (ECR) and the Secretary of TCR. The Award consists of a plaque and an honorarium, presented at the International Conference.

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists