Philadelphia Uni to establish PA Advanced Textile Research and Innovation Center
29 Jul '08
4 min read
“An exciting concentration will be in the area of nanotextile structures and their impact on advanced tissue engineering,” said David Brookstein, dean of Philadelphia University's School of Engineering and Textiles. “This area holds tremendous potential for the development of new technologies for Pennsylvania industries.”
Philadelphia University is a worldwide leader in state-of-the-art textiles research. The Laboratory for Engineered Human Protection (LEHP) provides testing and application reviews relating to comfort, wearability and performance of advanced textile and apparel systems.
LEHP is working with the U.S. Department of Defense to study the relationship between comfort and protection, including wearer performance, for U.S. military personnel.
The University's Institute for Textile and Apparel Product Safety was established in fall 2007 to research, test for and advise on appropriate regulatory oversight relating to the prevalence of toxic materials used in the production of textiles and apparel.
Its mission includes working with firms to identify and mitigate the use and application of toxic agents in their products.
In testing so far, Institute researchers have found elevated levels of potentially harmful formaldehyde in children's clothing and brominated resins in children's car seats.
“Philadelphia University will be working in partnership with other colleges and universities, and other Keystone Innovation Zones and applied researchers will be added as the program develops,” Senese said.
“By providing textiles structures and advanced fibrous materials technologies, PATRIC will be a proving ground for new industries in Pennsylvania, as well as significantly expanding the economic opportunities for existing companies.”