Biography
Dr Blackburn is a senior lecturer working within the area of Green Chemistry and Sustainability within the coloration and textiles industries. His specific current research interests include; ‘green’ coloration and finishing technology for all textile fibres; novel dyes; biopolymers; water conservation; biodegradable materials; effluent reduction and treatment; replacements for hazardous and non-eco-friendly chemicals used in coloration and textile operations. His work on eliminating salt and alkali in effluent and reducing water consumption and process time in dyeing operations has recently attracted much interest, having articles written about the work in ‘New Scientist’, ‘The Alchemist’ and ‘Chemistry in Britain’. His research group, the Green Chemistry Group, conducts research at MSc, PhD and post-doctoral levels, working closely with industry, government funding bodies, and other institutions.
Dr Blackburn is also co-founder and Director of The University of Leeds spin-out company DyeCat Ltd. The company's principal activity is the development of novel polymerisation methods, helping our customers to achieve coloured polymer materials without the need for downstream coloration and associated processing. DyeCat is developing technology from the University of Leeds, developing fundamental research concepts and bringing products to market. DyeCat's products are designed to reduce the environmental impact of dyeing and coloration processes, and to develop chemicals using green principles.
Dr Blackburn is co-founder and Director of RITE Group (Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment) which is a non-profit industry association which aims to provide advice and fact based information to minimise the negative environmental impact of the production, use and disposal of textiles and apparel. The Group's ultimate goal is to drive forward the sustainable and ethical production of textiles and clothing throughout the global supply chain through a number of innovative initiatives.
Teaching
| Level |
Subject |
| Level 1 |
TEXT1020 Introduction to Textiles B |
| Level M |
TEXT5107 Professional Development & Research Methodology
TEXT5108 Advanced Coloration Technology
TEXT5109 Advanced Finishing Technology
TEXT5130 Sustainable Textiles
TEXT5116 Research Dissertation |
Research Expertise/Interest
- Physical organic chemistry of fundamental interactions between dye molecules and polymers
- Thermodynamics and kinetics of application of colorants to synthetic and natural fibres substrates
- Organic dye chemistry, chemical properties of dyes and structure colour relationships
- Sustainability issues within the textiles, coloration and finishing industries
- Function and application of fibre preparations and finishes
- Polymer chemistry
- Fibre chemistry and properties
- Chemistry of domestic laundering formulations
- Colour physics and measurement of colour
Industrial collaborations
Arch Chemicals (UK), Boots Company (UK), DyStar (Germany), Invista (UK), Lenzing (Austria), NatureWorks (USA), Reilly Industries (USA), Uniqema (UK).
Professional activities
Referee for journals; Langmuir (ACS), Green Chemistry (RSC), Journal of Environmental Monitoring (RSC), Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (RSC), Journal of Applied Polymer Science (Wiley), Dyes & Pigments (Elsevier) and AATCC Review (AATCC). Associate of The Society of Dyers and Colourists, Chartered Colourist, Member of The Royal Society of Chemistry, Member of The American Chemical Society, and Member of the Green Chemistry Network.
Publications
Books
- R. S. Blackburn (ed.), Biodegradable and Sustainable Fibres, CRC Press. 2005. [More Details]
Chapters in books
- R. S. Blackburn, D. W. Farrington, J. Lunt, S. Davies, Poly(lactic acid) fibres, in Biodegradable and Sustainable Fibres, Chapter 6, CRC Press. 2005.
- I. Chodak, R. S. Blackburn, Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) and poly(caprolactone), in Biodegradable and Sustainable Fibres, Chapter 7, CRC Press. 2005.
Peer-reviewed articles
- P. Goswami, R. S. Blackburn, J. Taylor, S. Westland, P. White. Dyeing behaviour of lyocell fabric: effect of fibrillation Coloration Technology, 2007, 123, 387. [View Full Paper]
- W. Zhang, R. S. Blackburn, A. A. Dehghani-Sanij. Electrical conductivity of epoxy resin-carbon black-silica nanocomposites: Effect of silica concentration and analysis of polymer curing reaction by FTIR. Scripta Materialia, 2007, 57(10), 949. [View Full Paper]
- W. Zhang, R. S. Blackburn, A. A. Dehghani-Sanij. Effect of carbon black concentration on electrical conductivity of epoxy resin-carbon black-silica nanocomposites. Journal of Materials Science, 2007, 42(18), 7861. [View Full Paper]
- V. N. Wijayathunga, C. A. Lawrence, R. S. Blackburn, M. P. U. Bandara, E. L. V. Lewis, H. M. El-Dessouky, V. Cheung. Influence of laser irradiation on the optical and structural properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibres. Optics and Laser Technology, 2007, 39(7), 1301. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, A. Harvey, L. L. Kettle, A. P. Manian, J. D. Payne, S. J. Russell. Sorption of chlorhexidine on cellulose: Mechanism of binding and molecular recognition. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2007, 111(30), 8775. [View Full Paper]
- W. Zhang, R. S. Blackburn, A. A. Dehghani-Sanij. Carbon based conductive polymer composites Journal of Materials Science, 2007, 42(10), 3408. [View Full Paper]
- W. Zhang, R. S. Blackburn, A. A. Dehghani-Sanij. Effect of silica concentration on electrical conductivity of epoxy resin-carbon black-silica nanocomposites. Scripta Materialia, 2007, 56(7), 581. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, A. Harvey, L. L. Kettle, J. D. Payne, S. J. Russell. Sorption of poly(hexamethylenebiguanide) on cellulose: Mechanism of binding and molecular recognition. Langmuir, 2006, 22(13), 5636. [View Full Paper]
- I. Abdullah, R. S. Blackburn, S. J. Russell, J. Taylor. Abrasion Phenomena in Twill Tencel Fabric. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2006, 102(2), 1391. [View Full Paper]
- I. Abdullah, R. S. Blackburn, S. J. Russell, J. Taylor. Mechanism of crosslinking tencel woven fabric for superior easy-care properties and analysis using fluorescence microscopy. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2006, 101(4), 2154. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, X. Zhao, D. W. Farrington, L. Johnson. Effect of D-isomer concentration on the colouration properties of poly(lactic acid). Dyes & Pigments, 2006, 70, 251. [View Full Paper]
- I. Abdullah, R. S. Blackburn, S. J. Russell, J. Taylor. The Tensile and Elastic Behaviour of Tencel Continuous Filaments. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2006, 99, 1496. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn. Natural Polysaccharides and Their Interactions with Dye Molecules: Applications in Effluent Treatment. Environmental Science and Technology, 2004, 38 (18), 4905. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, A. Harvey. Green chemistry methods in sulphur dyeing: Application of various reducing D-sugars and analysis of the importance of optimum redox potential. Environmental Science and Technology, 2004, 38 (14), 4034. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, J. D. Payne. Life cycle analysis of cotton towels: impact of domestic laundering and recommendations for extending periods between washing. Green Chemistry, 2004, 6 (7), G59. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw. Treatment of cellulose with cationic, nucleophilic polymers to enable reactive dyeing at neutral pH without electrolyte addition. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2003, 89, 1026-1031. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw. A Greener Approach to Cotton Dyeings. Part 2 – Application of 1:2 Metal Complex Acid Dyes. Green Chemistry, 2002, 4 (3), 261. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw. A Greener Approach to Cotton Dyeings with Excellent Wash Fastness. Green Chemistry, 2002, 4 (1), 47. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw, R. Gordon. Dyeing Cotton/Polyamide Blend Fabrics with 1:2 Metal Complex Acid Dyes. Textile Chemist and Colorist & American Dyestuff Reporter, 2000, 32 (12), 44.
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw. The Aftertreatment of 1:2 Metal Complex Acid Dyes on Conventional Nylon 6.6 using a Commercial Syntan/Cation System. Part 3 – Improvements to the Fixogene AC System. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 2000, 116, 3. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw, K. Gandhi. The dyeing of silk with reactive dyes, part 1: Realan® dyes, Advances in Colour Science & Technology, 1999, 2, 109.
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw. The Aftertreatment of 1:2 Metal Complex Acid Dyes on Conventional Nylon 6.6 using a Commercial Syntan/Cation System. Part 2 – repeated washing. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 1999, 115, 102. [View Full Paper]
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw, G. W. Collins. The Application of Cationic Fixing Agents to Direct Dyed Cotton Under Different pH Conditions. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 1998, 114, 317.
- R. S. Blackburn, S. M. Burkinshaw. The Aftertreatment of 1:2 Metal Complex Acid Dyes on Conventional and Microfibre Nylon 6.6 using a Commercial Syntan/Cation System. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 1998, 114, 96.
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