Bio-Based PFAS-Free Superhydrophobic DWR Fabric Coatings for Cellulosics
Project Snapshot
Research Goal
Create durable water repellent (DWR) coatings from fully biobased materials for fabrics of natural fibers, offering a potential alternative to PFAS-based products.
Project Description
Develop fully bio-based, domestically sourced, and scalable superhydrophobic DWR finishes for cellulosic fabrics through clean polymer chemistry and textile waste upcycling.
Impact
The need for Durable Water Repellant (DWR) is high and spans many sectors, often with important safety implications, but currently available options rely on toxic chemicals that are dangerous for the health of the planet and humans. This not only provides a cleaner and safer option for DWR, but also aids in textile circularity by incorporatng a waste stream into the process.
Project Progress
Project Outputs
Discover the tangible outcomes and impact of this project.
Jialong Shen
NC State University
Assistant Professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, NC State University
At NC State, Jialong Shen leads the Sustainable Polymer Research Group within the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science.
His research focuses on the structure-property relationships of polymers and how they can be shaped for practical applications, from textile fiber recycling and upcycling to bio-based coatings, polymer membranes for gas separation and water purification, and covalent adaptable network (CAN) materials. A connecting thread is enzyme-based processing, including biosynthesis and enzyme immobilization, which offers routes to material transformation with reduced reliance on conventional chemical inputs.
A two-time NC State graduate, he has worked across multiple labs at the university. His doctoral research, supervised by Professor Alan Tonelli, examined polymer behavior and structural manipulation across different length scales. He later worked with Professor Sam Hudson on biomedical polymer applications, followed by research in Professor Sonja Salmon’s Textile Biocatalysis Group focused on enzyme immobilization and enzymatic processes for textile applications.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Fiber and Polymer Science, NC State University, 2017
- Master of Science (MS), Textile Engineering, NC State University, 2012
- Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Textile Engineering, Donghua University, 2011
