Anil Netravali
Looks to a Future of "Green" Textiles

Are you interested in reducing the amount of petrochemical based products in landfills? Would you like to increase the useful life of textile products so they won't be discarded so fast? Professor Anil Netravali, a textile scientist in the Textiles and Apparel department at Cornell, shares your concerns.

Professor Netravali addresses these environmental issues through two types of research. The first involves development of biodegradable composites of natural fibers and plant or microorganism-based resins. He is working with plant fibers that grow to harvest maturity quickly, such as flax, ramie, pineapple leaf, kenaf, banana, and bamboo, to avoid use of trees with long maturity cycles. For example, a prototype composite made of flax and ramie sealed with resins developed from soy protein will degrade in six to eight weeks when composted, as compared to non-degradable petroleum-based plastics. The prototype material can be molded and manufactured in different shapes, making it appropriate as a plastic or wood substitute in consumer products, vehicle interiors, and many other products.

The second type of "green" research also requires an understanding of fiber degradation. Professor Netravali is involved in a joint project with a Japanese University to study the effects of high-energy radiation on the mechanical and physical properties of nylon fibers. You have probably observed fading of nylon carpeting caused by ultraviolet rays in sunlight; radiation also causes a gradual loss of strength in nylon. Previous work by Dr. Netravali and student researchers focused on the degradation of polyester and polypropylene, commonly used as landfill linings. It is important to understand causes and timing of deterioration in underground conditions so that the most durable linings possible can be designed.

If you would like to work with Professor Netravali on "green" materials research, you can sponsor a Cornell graduate student, participate in research design, and access Cornell facilities by joining the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) for an annual fee. This National Science Foundation funded program focuses on the science and engineering of advanced materials of many types.

Professor Netravali has an interest in following ideas to market, as well as in pure research. He was a part of an entrepreneurial team of Cornell alumni and faculty that won a prize from the Cornell Big Red Venture Fund for a new business idea last year. The project revolved around the use of novel materials to high resolution televisions and displays.

Some questions you might ask Professor Netravali:

• How can composite fabrics be used to fix old, leaky pipes on the inside?
• What composites can be used for strength and then degrade?