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Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Program

Jon Rust

JR
A headshot of distinguished professor Jon Rust standing in front of a gray background.

Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Professor Emeritus

Distinguished Undergraduate Professor

Interim Director

Associate Dean

Short Staple Yarn Manufacturing

Textiles Complex 3306

919.515.6564 Website

Bio

Jon Rust is a professor emeritus in the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) Department at NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles. Since 1985, he has served as a faculty member. From 1998 to 2000, he directed the Textile Engineering Program. Then, from 2000 to 2008, he served as associate head and director of undergraduate programs. In 2008, he was named department head. Additionally, he served as Interim Associate Dean for General Education Implementation during the 2008–2009 academic year.

Throughout his academic career, Rust taught a wide range of textile engineering courses. However, he focused mainly on fiber and polymer science, fiber-to-yarn conversion and senior design. Moreover, he earned several prestigious teaching awards. These include the Gertrude Cox Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology. He also received the NC State Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award. Notably, he was nominated three times for the Wilson College of Textiles Board of Governors Award.

Rust has co-authored over thirty peer-reviewed research articles. In addition, he is co-inventor on eight patents and one pending patent application. His research reflects close collaboration with students and industry partners. Furthermore, his contributions to textile innovation have enhanced both academia and manufacturing.

Before becoming Department Head, Rust spent summers from 1992 to 2008 working in the textile industry. During those years, he led student teams on process improvement projects for various textile companies. Finally, he remains active in professional circles. He is a member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists and the American Society for Engineering Education.

Education

Ph.D. Fiber and Polymer Science NC State University 1990

M.S. Fiber Science Clemson University 1985

B.S. Mechanical Engineering Clemson University 1982

Area(s) of Expertise

Rust’s research focuses on short staple yarn manufacturing. He has led several successful projects in this broad technical field. For example, he investigated process controls in drawframe autolevelling and novel sensing methods in carding. Additionally, he explored HVI cotton fiber property measurement and its significance. He also worked on roller-drafting and autoleveling at carding, resulting in four patents with T. Clapp. Moreover, his studies addressed moisture control in staple spinning, ginning technology development and fiber instrumentation.

Currently, Rust continues to advance roller-drafting and autoleveling technology at carding. He aims to improve sliver quality through better control systems. Furthermore, he works on refining carding operations for greater consistency and efficiency. His research also supports innovation in ginning technology and fiber quality assessment. Notably, these efforts contribute to industrial performance and academic advancement.

Looking ahead, Rust plans to expand his work on novel fiber instrumentation and in-plant moisture control. Additionally, he will pursue further development of advanced ginning systems. These future projects reflect his commitment to solving practical textile challenges through applied research. Ultimately, his work enhances both product quality and processing technologies across the textile industry.

Publications

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Grants

Date: 08/01/16 - 9/06/18
Amount: $70,000.00
Funding Agencies: US Dept. of Energy (DOE) - Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

This research is focused on assisting the University of California, San Diego team with fabric test services, analysis and interpretion of the test data, consultation in perfecting the fabric design and identifying alternative methods and/or materials. He will lead the NC State team in developing best methods for testing of the fabrics created by UC San Diego including the Q-test Constant Rate of Tensile Test machine, air permeability test apparatus, the Martindale Pilling and Abrasion Tester, the Sweating Hot plate and the Kawabata Evaluation System.

Date: 07/20/16 - 6/30/17
Amount: $50,000.00
Funding Agencies: Welspun India Ltd.

This Fabrication Service will focus on the following laboratories. 1. Nonwovens Fiber Science Laboratory, 2. TECS Forensic Textile Analytical Laboratory 3. Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) laboratories including: spinning, weaving, knitting and dyeing and finishing laboratories. Fabrications services will include creating novel filament through the Nonwovens Institute and subsequently texturing and cutting the fiber. The staple will then be blended and the fiber blends converted to spun yarn. The yarns will subsequently be sized and woven into fabric on the CCI sample loom in the ZTE Weaving Laboratory. Other fabrication services may include knitting the yarns. Testing services may include the TECS Forensic Textile Analytical Laboratory as well as the ZTE Physical Testing Laboratory.

Date: 06/01/14 - 12/23/14
Amount: $49,565.00
Funding Agencies: All-American Hose, LLC

The objectives of this project are to: 1. Develop a portable pneumatic splicing system for heavy denier continuous filament yarns 2. Optimize the pneumatic splice configuration that provide the least structure changes of woven fabric 

Date: 07/01/08 - 9/30/08
Amount: $17,250.00
Funding Agencies: Thaler Consumer Products, LLC

In order to move forward with this idea to the best of our ability, we need to accomplish the following tasks that we shall refer to as Phase I: 1. Complete a thorough review of the patent literature and technology. This would include utilizing University resources in terms of patent attorneys and professionals along with our own expertise and experience in searching the literature for prior art. 2. Spend significant time establishing a clear set of criteria and constraints including all expected long-term and short-term system deliverables. 3. Build a small-scale apparatus that would allow field testing to analyze: where is the field strongest; what is the range of field strengths for various transformer sizes, shapes and power usage; and what is the potential opportunity in terms of watts.


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Groups

Tags

  • Gertrude Cox Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology, NC State University
  • Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award, NC State University
  • Board of Governors Award nominee, Wilson College of Textiles