About

Abdel-Fattah Seyam is the AS Cannon Distinguished Professor of Textiles at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, where he has been a faculty member since 1991. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science from North Carolina State University, an M.S. and B.S. in Textile Engineering from Alexandria University. Dr. Seyam has also served as an instructor at Alexandria University and Mansoura University in Egypt, and has professional experience as a Research Engineer for Burlington Industries and a Project Manager for Valdese Textiles in North Carolina. His research focuses on advanced textile formation, structural mechanics of woven fabrics, fiber-reinforced composites from high-performance and sustainable bio-fibers, medical textiles, smart electronic textiles, and product design, testing, and evaluation. He has contributed extensively to the field through scholarly publications, editing books, and developing computer software packages for manufacturing and engineering woven structures. Dr. Seyam holds multiple patents related to cold weather systems, electrotextiles, and laminate airship hulls, and has filed numerous invention disclosures. Throughout his career, Dr. Seyam has mentored over 111 graduate students and 25 international visitors, guiding them to leadership roles in academia, industry, and government worldwide. His research areas include nanosciences, surface modification, health and safety, educational innovation, and various applications of textiles such as protection, medical, and smart textiles. Recognized for his dedication and achievements, he has received numerous awards, including the Wilson Values Faculty Award, the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence, and the Charles A. Cannon Distinguished Professorship.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Mechanical engineering
• Materials science
• Composite material
• Engineering
• Manufacturing engineering
• Engineering drawing

Selected publications

• Effect of Interlocking Patterns on the Auxeticity and Mechanical Performance of 3D Woven Structures

  Fibers and Polymers · 2026-02-14

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Sustainability in Fiber-Reinforced Composites

  2026-02-19

  book-chapterSenior author

  The global fashion market is expected to grow by over USD 2.25 trillion in 2025, with textile consumption nearly doubling in recent decades. Textile production is expanding to meet the steadily growing demand, resulting in an enormous amount of textile waste that is burned or dumped in landfills each year, which harms the environment and depletes resources. To solve both issues, researchers are converting textile waste into fiber-reinforced composite materials. These fiber-reinforced composites are cutting-edge materials that blend textiles with polymer matrices to produce lightweight, high-performance materials for appropriate applications, which also pertain to social, economic, and environmental factors at every stage of their life cycle. Their integration into industrial applications offers significant opportunities for aligning industry with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that require careful selection of fiber-reinforced composite constituents that are biodegradable, such as natural fibers, biopolymers, and plant-based resins. However, these materials come with certain drawbacks, such as inconsistent supply chains and lower mechanical properties, that need to be addressed to achieve widespread adoption. For nonbiodegradable constituents, recycling and circularity in composite materials are also vital strategies to minimize environmental impact and conserve resources. Several companies, such as Airbus, BMW Group, and Lineo, are actively working to overcome challenges in composite recycling, pioneering innovative solutions to promote sustainability in the composite industry. This chapter addresses the strategies and opportunities for the conversion of textile waste into high-performance fiber-reinforced composites to mitigate the significant textile waste impact on the environment.

  PublisherDOI

• Honeycomb Structures with Conical Pits and Tetrahedral Confined Spaces: A Comprehensive Study on Mechanical Attributes

  Fibers and Polymers · 2026-01-18

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Greening Fused Deposition Modeling: A Critical Review of Plant Fiber-Reinforced PLA-Based 3D-Printed Biocomposites

  Fibers · 2025-05-14 · 15 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author

  Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing (3DP) of PLA biocomposites reinforced with plant-derived cellulosic fibrous materials, including spun yarn, microcrystalline, microfibrillar, nanofibrillar cellulose, and cellulose nanocrystals, offers an environmentally sustainable solution to the mechanical limitations of polymer-only printed materials. Micron- and submicron-scale cellulosic fibers are valued for their renewability, non-toxicity, high surface area, and favorable elastic and specific moduli; notably, micron-scale reinforcements are particularly attractive due to their ease of large-scale industrial production and commercial viability. Similarly, PLA benefits from large-scale production, contributes to CO2 sequestration through its raw material precursors, and requires less energy for production than non-biodegradable petroleum-derived polymers. Incorporating these raw materials, each of which offers attractive performance properties, complementary commercial strengths, and environmental benefits, as constituent phases in FDM 3D-printed biocomposites (FDMPBs) can further enhance the environmental responsiveness of an already low-waste FDM 3DP technology. Inspired by these compelling advantages, this paper critically reviews research on FDMPB with cellulosic reinforcements in a PLA matrix, uniquely categorizing studies based on the form of cellulosic reinforcement and its impact on the biocomposite’s structure and mechanical performance. Additionally, the review covers biocomposite filament production methods and the equipment involved, presenting an alternative framework for cataloging FDMPB research. A comprehensive literature analysis reveals that the wide variation in feedstocks, fiber–matrix compounding methods, equipment, and processing parameters used in filament production and 3DP complicates the comparison of FDMPB mechanical properties across studies, often resulting in conflicting outcomes. Key processing parameters have been compiled to bridge this gap and offer a more nuanced understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships governing biocomposite properties. Finally, targeted recommendations for future research on developing FDMPB with a PLA matrix and micron-scale cellulosic reinforcements are provided, addressing the knowledge gaps and challenges highlighted in the peer-reviewed literature.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effect of Weave Structure and Adhesive Type on the Adhesion of Kevlar Fabric-Reinforced Laminated Structures

  Journal of Composites Science · 2025-03-19 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  This study investigates the influence of fabric weave design and adhesive type on the adhesion quality and mechanical properties of Kevlar woven fabric-reinforced laminates (FRLs). Three adhesives (EVA, EVOH, and TPU) and three weave structures (plain, 2/2 twill, and crowfoot) were analyzed while keeping other fabric parameters constant. Both weave structure and adhesive type, as well as their interactions, significantly influenced adhesion and mechanical performance. Combinations like the crowfoot weave with EVOH adhesive enhanced adhesion due to increased surface contact, while the 2/2 twill weave with EVA adhesive improved tear strength but resulted in weaker adhesion, highlighting the trade-offs in material design. A negative correlation between yarn pullout force and tear resistance was observed, particularly for EVA and EVOH adhesives, where improved adhesion often coincided with reduced tear resistance. Tensile strength varied significantly across weaves, with twill exhibiting the highest strength, followed by plain and crowfoot weaves. This study highlights the critical role of weave design and adhesive choice in FRLs, providing valuable insights for optimizing material selection to meet specific industrial performance criteria.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Dynamic Mechanical Performance of 3D Woven Auxetic Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

  Journal of Composites Science · 2025-12-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The assessment of the dynamic mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced composites has gained importance in specific high-tech applications like aerospace and automobiles. However, three dimensional (3D) auxetic reinforcements offering viable performance have remained unexplored. Hence, this study investigates the energy absorption capabilities and high strain impact behaviors of 3D woven fabric-reinforced composites. Three different types of 3D woven reinforcements i.e., warp interlock (Wp), weft interlock (Wt), and bidirectional interlock (Bi) were developed from jute yarn, and their corresponding composites were fabricated using polycarbonate (PC) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Out-of-plane auxeticity was measured for reinforcements while composites were analyzed under dynamic tests. Wp exhibited the highest auxeticity with a value of −1.29, Bi showed the least auxeticity with a value of −0.31, while Wt entailed an intermediate value of −0.46 owing to variable interlacement patterns. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results revealed that composite samples developed with PC resin showed a higher storage modulus with the least tan delta values less than 0.2, while PVB-based samples exhibited higher loss modulus with tan delta values of 0.6. Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) results showed that, under 2 and 4 bar pressure tests, PVB-based composites exhibited the highest maximum load while PC-based composites exhibited the least. Warp interlock-based composites with higher auxeticity showed better energy absorption when compared with the bidirectional interlock reinforcement based (with lower auxeticity) composites that exhibited lower peak load and energy dissipation.

  PublisherDOI

• Valorizing denim and <scp>Polyethylene</scp> sheet waste to fiber‐reinforced composites

  Polymer Composites · 2025-02-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract 75% of textile waste ends up in landfills globally due to inappropriate recycling or upcycling infrastructure. One of the possible solutions to bring this waste to life is to convert it into composite materials. In this study, composites were developed using denim fabric waste as reinforcement (woven and nonwoven fabric) and polyethylene sheet waste as a matrix. The developed composites were placed in a controlled environment for 12 weeks for accelerated aging. The drop weight impact behavior was tested and compared to unaged samples. It was noted that, for the range studied, aging at elevated temperatures and in a humid environment significantly enhances resistance to impact loads and the ability to absorb energy up to 40%. The results showed that woven fabric‐reinforced composites have up to 70% better load distribution compared to nonwoven fabric‐reinforced composites. There are also some benefits and drawbacks, for example, with nonwoven fabric, we can achieve different thicknesses and areal densities; however, with woven fabric, there are some limitations. The CO 2eq emissions calculations revealed significant data that may help industry to decide on CO 2 emission mitigation strategies. Textile waste was found to be a potential low‐cost source that can be used, depending on the intended application. Highlights Recycling of Denim waste to a value‐added sustainable product Preparation of circular composites with recycled denim waste and polyethylene Aging behavior of developed composites under a controlled environment Investigating mechanical properties of composites for automobile applications CO 2eq emissions calculations for the mitigation of environmental impacts

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Enhancing Interfacial Adhesion in Kevlar and Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber-Reinforced Laminates: A Comparative Study of Surface Roughening, Plasma Treatment, and Chemical Functionalization Using Graphene Nanoparticles

  Fibers · 2025-02-11 · 13 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  This study investigates the impact of mechanical and chemical surface treatments on the interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of Kevlar and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber-reinforced laminates (FRLs). Various treatments, including surface roughening, plasma exposure, NaOH and silane coupling, and graphene nanoparticle (NP) incorporation, were conducted to enhance the fiber–matrix bonding within thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrices. Results demonstrated that treatment efficacy highly depends on fiber type and matrix material, with chemical modifications generally outperforming the physical treatment (surface roughness). Plasma treatment significantly enhanced adhesion for UHMWPE, increasing yarn pullout force by 188.1% with TPU. While combining plasma with graphene slightly improved performance, it did not exceed plasma-only results due to potential surface functionalization losses during wet graphene application. For Kevlar, the combination of NaOH, silane, and graphene NP (NSG) treatment yielded the highest adhesion, showing increases of 76.6% with TPU and 95.4% with EVA, underscoring the synergy between chemical coupling and nanomaterial reinforcement. This study’s insights align with previous research, expanding the knowledge base by investigating graphene’s role independently and alongside established methods.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Textile and colour defect detection using deep learning methods

  Coloration Technology · 2025-11-02 · 1 citations

  article

  Abstract Recent advances in deep learning (DL) have significantly enhanced the detection of textile and colour defects. This review focuses specifically on the application of DL‐based methods for defect detection in textile and coloration processes, with an emphasis on object detection and related computer vision (CV) tasks. The first section systematically categorises existing DL approaches including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), generative adversarial networks (GANs), and transformer‐based models—and examines their implementation in tasks such as surface defect localisation, colour inconsistency identification, and anomaly detection. Core algorithms are outlined alongside their underlying principles, practical challenges, and emerging solutions. The second section further compares DL approaches with traditional methods such as CV and expert systems (ESs) for diagnosing defects in coloration processes. This work offers a structured framework that integrates both model architecture taxonomy and methodological comparison, providing deeper technical insight than prior surveys. By highlighting the trade‐offs between DL, CV, and ES methods, and identifying future research opportunities, this review serves as a reference for designing cost‐effective, high‐performance defect detection systems in textile manufacturing.

  PublisherDOI

• Numerical Study of the Influence of the Structural Parameters on the Stress Dissipation of 3D Orthogonal Woven Composites under Low-Velocity Impact

  Technologies · 2024-04-05 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  This study investigates the effects of the number of layers, x-yarn (weft) density, and z-yarn (binder) path on the mechanical behavior of E-glass 3D orthogonal woven (3DOW) composites during low-velocity impacts. Meso-level finite element (FE) models were developed and validated for 3DOW composites with different yarn densities and z-yarn paths, providing analyses of stress distribution within reinforcement fibers and matrix, energy absorption, and failure time. Our findings revealed that lower x-yarn densities led to accumulations of stress concentrations. Furthermore, changing the z-yarn path, such as transitioning from plain weaves to twill or basket weaves had a noticeable impact on stress distributions. The research highlights the significance of designing more resilient 3DOW composites for impact applications by choosing appropriate parameters in weaving composite designs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Kavita Mathur

  Wilson College

  43 shared

• S M Fijul Kabir

  32 shared

• William Oxenham

  23 shared

• Rahul Vallabh

  Wilson College

  22 shared

• Tushar K. Ghosh

  21 shared

• Mohamad Midani

  North Carolina State University

  18 shared

• Thomas Theyson

  17 shared

• Ang Li

  Wilson College

  13 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Wilson College of Textiles

  North Carolina State University

  1985

• MS, Textile Engineering

  Alexandria University

  1978

• BS, Textile Engineering

  Alexandria University

  1972

Awards & honors

• The Inaugural Wilson Values Faculty Award for sustained comm…
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Bestowed by Scrutiny Committee o…
• Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence Award, 2018
• Named Charles A. Cannon Distinguish Professor of Textiles, M…
• NC State University Alumni Association Distinguished Graduat…