Nonwovens in Filtration
March 17, 2026, Tuesday
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET, USA
$USD 350
$USD 175 (Member Only )
Course Objective
Nonwovens continue to grow in production and consumption all over the world. From disposable cheap products to high-value engineered products, nonwovens find application in several areas that are critical to our life and environment, including that of filtration. Filtration and other performance of nonwovens depend on the structure and properties of the products, which in turn depend on the choice of the materials and the processes used.
This course will provide an overall understanding as to what nonwovens are and how they are different from other fabrics. The topics that will be covered include: (i) Nonwoven products and markets; (ii) Polymers and fibers used in nonwovens; (iii) Nonwoven production – web formation and Bonding; (iv) Dry-laid and Wet-laid formation of webs; (v) Direct web formation from polymers; (vi) Web bonding technologies – mechanical, thermal and chemical; (vii) Finishing of nonwovens; and (viii) Nonwovens testing and characterization. Advantages and disadvantages of these processes, as well as their flexibilities and limitations will be deliberated.
Because of the enormous opportunities and continuing innovation, nonwoven sector continues to enjoy sustainable growth for foreseeable future. Recent innovations and developments, as well as the options available for the industry to develop new products will be discussed.
Course Outline
Introduction to Nonwovens
Nonwovens Market
Hygiene
Personal Protection
Facemasks, Protective Apparels
Wipes
Filtration
Other disposables
DurablesBroad Applications of Nonwovens in Filtration
Air Filtration
Liquid FiltrationNonwoven Manufacturing Processes
Web Formation Technologies – Dry laid and Wet laid
Polymer to Web Formation Technologies -Spunbond and Meltblown
Web Bonding Technologies – Mechanical, Chemical and ThermalStructure and Properties of Nonwovens
Nonwovens as Engineered Products
Unique Position of Nonwovens in Filtration
Opportunities and Trends for Future Development
Instructor Biography
Dr. Gajanan S. Bhat
Chair Professor, UGA, USA
Instructor
Dr. Bhat is a Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Fibers and Textiles, Head of Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors ,University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
After earning his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech in textile and polymer engineering, Dr. Bhat joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) in August 1990, where his research covered nonwovens - melt blown, spunbonded and biodegradable, plastics recycling, nanotechnology, sustainable materials, and high performance fibers. As the director of UTNRL he demonstrated successful production of nanofibers from thermoplastic polymers by meltblowing. In July 2016, he joined UGA as the Head of the Textiles and Merchandising and Interiors (TMI) department. Dr. Bhat has published more than 200 research papers, has three US Patents and has made more than 250 national or international presentations. He has served as the president of the Fiber Society and is also an active member of INDA, TAPPI and the Textile Institute. Some of the awards/recognitions he has received include:
Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni by Georgia Tech (1996)
Distinguished Achievement Award from the Fiber Society (1999)
Fellow of the Textile Institute (2005)
TechniTex India Research Achievement Award (2008)
TAPPI NET division Technical Achievement Award (2014).
In addition to conducting research in the area of nonwovens since 1984, Dr. Bhat has taught nonwoven courses at UTK, and was involved in developing and teaching the introductory nonwovens training course with INDA. He has also been part of the nonwovens tutorial and INTC and TAPPI NET conferences. In addition to being part of the Textile and Nonwovens Development Center (TANDEC) conference for several years, he has served as session chair and organizing committee member of several TAPPI and INDA technical conferences. Many of his former students are working in reputed nonwoven companies as well. He has been working with many nonwoven companies in product development and solving problems.
Dr. Sneha Swaminathan
Panelist, USA
Dr. Sneha Swaminathan earned her PhD in Chemical Engineering from The University of Akron. She started her career as scientist in Hollingsworth & Vose and progressed to her current role as Senior Director of Global Product Management. Her primary area of expertise is fibers, nanotechnology and filter media. She has 6 granted patent applications and numerous journal and conference papers. She has served American Filtrations and Separations (AFS) in committees and in leadership positions including the Board of Directors. Sneha is six sigma and project management professional (PMP) certified. Sneha has won several awards such as Frank Tiller Leadership award and young professional awards from SAE, TAPPI & AFS associations.
Dr. Fabian Fritze
Panelist, Germany
Dr. Fabian Fritze studied Chemistry at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen–Nuremberg and earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Ulm. He has more than eight years of experience in the filtration and specialty materials industry and currently serves as Director of Research and Development at Gessner. In this role, he leads teams focused on the development of advanced filter media and material technologies. Dr. Fritze’s work spans applications in transportation, water and air filtration, industrial processing, and life sciences. His research interests include filtration performance, material innovation, and sustainability topics such as product carbon footprint reduction and environmentally responsible material design. He is actively engaged in advancing next-generation filtration technologies and contributing to industry discussions on sustainable filtration solutions.
Panelist
Mr. Kent Williamson is the Head of Product Development for Ahlstrom, Americas, with over 30 years of experience in the global filtration industry. His expertise spans mobile engine and industrial applications, with a strong emphasis on quality, technical customer service, and product development.
Throughout his career at Ahlstrom, Kent has held various roles focusing on fibers, chemistry, and processes related to a wide range of filtration media products. He is an innovator, holding four patents and numerous trade secrets. Kent earned his BS degree in Pulp and Paper Engineering from North Carolina State University and is an active member of AFS and TAPPI. He currently resides in Nashville, TN.
Dr. Matt O’Sickey is the Director of Education and Technical Affairs at INDA, the Association of the Nonwovens Fabric Industry. He has prior experience leading operations, R&D, marketing, and product management. He has multiple patents, received industry innovation awards, provided innumerable presentations, is a training course instructor, is a contributing columnist for the International Fiber Journal and International Filtration News. He holds a deeply rooted belief that innovation is the result of the intersection of marketing and technology. Matt is a Chemical Engineer alumnus of Purdue University and Virginia Tech where his studies had heavy emphasis on the processing-structure-property relationships of polymeric materials.
Dr. Christine Sun, President of the World Filtration Institute (WFI), is a globally renowned technical and market expert in the filtration industry. With 30+ years of experience in academia and industry, she has 100+ publications and patents with deep expertise in technology innovation and business development. Dr. Sun chaired the American Filtration and Separation Society (AFS) (2016–2017) and received the AFS Fellow Award (2019). She served as Technology Director at Donaldson (2011–2013), R&D Manager at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies (2004–2011), and Research Professor at the University of Tennessee (1995–2024). She earned her BS, MS, and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Tsinghua University, China, and an Executive Certificate from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, USA. Dr. Sun serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Industrial Textiles and Textile Science & Research Journal.