Sharon Obendorf
Professor
2007
FSAD

Web Bio Page

Current Activities

Current Professional Activities


Current Research Activities
In the field of fiber science, analytical electron microscopy and spectroscopy are used to evaluate the surface chemistry of fibers and films as related to the performance of these materials. Active projects are underway in areas of protective clothing and detergency. Specific research projects are selected to address issues of health and safety, preservation of the environment, and basic science and technology of polymers and fibers.

Protective Clothing: Research to limit the dermal and biological exposure of agricultural, horticultural, and lawn care workers to pesticides and of medical care personnel and first responders/receivers through protective clothing is on-going. Predictive model for protection and comfort performance of porous protective clothing have been developed for non woven and woven fabrics. Novel membranes with engineered pore structures for use in protective clothing have been develped using microporous polymer membranes and electrospun fibrous membranes. In addition, we are studying decontamination mechanisms of N halamine-treated fabrics and of metal oxide containing fabrics on protection from pesticide exposure. Antimicrobial membranes have been developed base upon N-halamine technology as well as electrospinning. Current research is investigating the use of active fiber surfaces to reduce volatile organics in indoor air.

Detergency: Research funded by the surfactants and detergent industry investigated soils on textile materials and their removal. The underlying chemistry of the soils and their interaction with various fibers was determined increasing the basic understanding of this everyday phenomenon. This work was part of efforts to study difficult soils and stains such as body soil, collar and cuff soil. Industry-funded research also studied the adsorbency of aroma chemicals from aqueous systems. New research applied these methodologies to study the distribution of fabric softener on cotton fibers.

Backscattered electron imaging and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis allow us to determine the distribution of compounds such as oily soil, aroma chemicals, spin finishes, and fabric softeners within the fabric and fiber structure. These studies enhance the basic understanding of the mechanisms and processes of textile finishing and fabric care. Our research also has investigated the formation of malodor on garments. A method using GC/MS was developed to study the effectiveness of antimicrobial finishes and treatments of textiles to reduce the formation of malodor.


Biography

Education
  • Ph.D. 1976 - Cornell University Physical Chemistry
  • M.S. 1974 - Cornell University Physical Chemistry
  • M.S. 1963 - University of Illinois Textiles
  • B.S. 1962 - Kansas State University Clothing and Textiles


  • Administrative Responsibilities
    Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education

    Courses, Websites, Pubs

    Related Websites
    http://hosts.cce.cornell.edu/txnc170/

    Publications
    Seungsin Lee and S. Kay Obendorf, Use of Electrospun Nanofiber Web for Protective Textile Materials as Barriers to Liquid Penetration, Textile Research Journal, 77:696-702 (2007).

    Tan, K. and Obendorf, S.K., Fabrication and evaluation of electrospun nanofibrous antimicrobial nylon 6 membranes, Journal of Membrane Science, 305:287-298 (2007).

    Obendorf, S.K., Kim, J., and Kuniz, R., Measurement of Odor Development Due to Bacterial Action on Antimicrobial Polyester Fabrics, AATCC Review, 7(7):35-40 (2007).

    Lee, Seungsin and S. K. Obendorf, Transport Properties of Layered Fabric Systems Based on Eclectrospun Nanofibers, Fibers and Polymers, 8(5), 501-506 (2007).

    Ahn, Cheunsoon and S. Kay Obendorf, GC-MS Analysis of Curcumin Dye after Selective Degradation Treatment, Fibers and Polymers, 8(3), 278-283 (2007).

    Lee, Seungsin and S. Kay Obendorf, Barrier Effectiveness and Thermal Comfort of Protective Clothing Materials, Journal of the Textile Institute, 98:87-97 (2007).

    Tan, K. and S. K. Obendorf, Development of an antimicrobial microporous polyurethane membrane, Journal of Membrane Science, 289:199–209(2007)

    Seungsin Lee and S. Kay Obendorf, Developing Protective Textile Materials as Barriers to Liquid Penetration Using Melt-Electrospinning, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 102: 3430-3437 (2006),

    W. Y. Fok , D. N. Hild , and S. K. Obendorf, Autoxidation of Spin Finishes, Textile Research Journal, 76:614-618 (2006).

    Ahn C, and Obendorf SK, GC-MS analysis of dyes extracted from turmeric, Fibers and Polymers, 7 (2): 158-163 (2006).

    L. M. Petrick, D. N. Hild , and S. K. Obendorf, Observations of Soiling of Nylon 66 Carpet Fibers, Textile Research Journal, 76:253-260 (2006)

    S. Kay Obendorf, Haiqing Liu J. Young, Michael J. Incorvia, Effect of Vapor Pressure of Aroma Chemicals on Their Retention on Cotton and Polyester Fabrics, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 99:1720-1723 (2006)

    S. K. Obendorf, A.T. Lemley, A. Hedge, A.A. Kline, K. Tan, T. Dokuchayeva, Distribution of Pesticide Residue within Homes in Central New York State, Archive of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 50:31-44 (2006)

    Kuitian Tan, S. Kay Obendorf, Surface Modification of Microporous Polyurethane Membrane with Poly(ethylene glycol) to Develop a Hybrid Membrane, Journal of Membrane Science 274:150–158 (2006).

    Ahn, Cheunsoon, S. Kay Obendorf, Analysis of Degradation Products in Madder Dyed Fabrics in Selective Degradation Conditions, Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles, 29: 1608-1618 (2005)

    Seungsin Lee and S. Kay Obendorf, Statistical Model of Pesticide Penetration through Woven Work Clothing Fabrics, Archive of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 49:266-273 (2005). 

    Haiqing Liu, S. Kay Obendorf, Michael J. Leonard, Timothy J. Young, Michael J. Incorvia, Distribution of aroma chemicals on textile fibers, Perfumer & Flavorist, Vol. 30, March/April 2005, p. 54-60.

    D. N. Hild, S. K. Obendorf, and W. Y. Fok, Mapping of Spin Finish Oils on Nylon 66 Fibers, Textile Research Journal 74(3):187-192 (2004).

    S. Kay Obendorf, Microscopy to Define Soil, Fabric and Detergent Formulation Characteristics that Affect Detergency: A Review, AATCC Review 4 (1):17-23 (2004). 

    Cheunsoon Ahn and S. K. Obendorf, Toward the Study of Dyes on Archeological Textiles: Analysis of Alizarin and Its Degradation Products, Textile Res. J. 74:949-954 (2004). 

    Haiqing Liu, S. Kay Obendorf, Timothy J. Young, Michael J. Incorvia, Microscopic Analysis of Aroma Chemical Distribution on Fibers. I. cis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 91, 35573564 (2004).