CARY, NC — March 12, 2008 —  A total of 16 of the best technical papers focusing on research in the nonwovens industry have been recognized by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and TAPPI, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, as the Best Papers presented at INTC 2007, held last September in Houston, Tex.

Almost 300 professionals from industry and academia heard more than 70 technical papers during INTC 2007. The annual technical conference is co-sponsored by INDA and the Nonwovens Division of TAPPI.

The overall winner of the INTC 2007 Best Paper is Fatma Kilinc-Balci, of Auburn University, for a paper entitled “Extrusion of Composite Fibers." Kilinc-Balci receives a $1000 award for this recognition.

“Cutting-edge research from both academia and industry is vital to the future of our business and the papers that have been selected as recipients of this recognition represent the 'Best of the Best' in the vital research that will bring our industry into the future,” says INDA Technical Director Steve Ogle.

Also recognized as Best Papers in individual categories:

• Binders & Additives — Barry Weinstein, Rohm & Haas Company, “Cure Diagnostics for Acrylic Thermosets.”
• Building & Industrial Mat — Harry Alter, Owens Corning Science and Technology Center, “Noise: The Next Pollution.”
• Filtration — Daniel Hennessy, Ahlstrom, “Determining the Degree of Cure of Phenolic Filter Media.”
• Flame Retardants — Gerald Keep, Missing Octave insights, Inc., “Multi-component Flame Retardant Systems.”
• Insulation I — Kevin Gallagher, CertainTeed Corporation, “Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Insulation Binders.”
• Insulation II — Pascal Lesage, Sylvatica, “Evaluation Life Cycle Impacts of Nonwovens: Results, Lessons and Prospects from Case Studies of Insulation.”
• Meltblown & Spunbond Technology I — Larry McAmish, Imerys, “Evaluation for Mineral Additives in Spunbond Polypropylene.”
• Meltblown & Spunbond Technology II — Roy Brougton, Jr., Auburn University, “Production and Evaluation of Meltblown Poly(phenylene sulfide).”
• Modeling I — Dietmar Hietel, Fraunhofer-Institute for Industrial Mathematics (ITWM), Germany, “Modeling and Simulation of Fiber Dynamics in Nonwoven Processes.”
• Modeling II — H. Vahedi Tafreshi, Virginia Commonwealth University, “Simulation of Nanoparticle Filtration via Nanofiber Media at Reduced Operating Pressures.”
• Nanotechnology — Eric Formo, University of Washington, “Nanostructured Materials by Electrospinning.”
• Polymers & Processes I — Fatma Kilinc-Balci, Auburn University, “Extrusion of Composite Fibers.”
• Polymers & Processes II — Don Shiffler, Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC)/North Carolina State University, “The Electrostatic Charge on Moving Non Metallic Forming Belts.”
• Protective Materials — Gang Sun, University of California-Davis, “Production of Biocidal Polypropylene by Reactive Extrusion.”
• Surface Enhancements — Eunkyoung Shim, Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC)/North Carolina State University, “Surface Modification of Polypropylene with Ethoxylated Melt Additives.”
• Sustainability — Jan O'Regan, Cotton Incorporated, “Cotton-Focus on Sustainability.”

INTC 2008 will be held September 8-11 at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Tex. For more information: www.inda.org.