Danmei Sun

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Professor Danmei Sun has nearly 30 years of experience across both the textile industry and academia. She obtained her BSc degree in Textile Engineering from Qingdao University and subsequently worked in a large-scale textile company for 12 years as a Textile Engineer. She later pursued a PhD at Heriot-Watt University, focusing on sustainable techniques and processes for textile dyeing and finishing. Her doctoral research explored how plasma treatment influences various textile properties and processes. Following her PhD, Prof. Sun worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the School of Materials, University of Manchester, on a three-year UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) funded project. Her work involved developing innovative 2D and 3D fabric structures for enhanced impact performance and using Finite Element Modelling to investigate impact mechanisms.

Since joining the School of Textiles and Design at Heriot-Watt University as an academic in 2010, Prof. Sun has led extensive research in the development of smart and functional textile materials. Her work spans thermally regulated garments, thermal analysis of textiles using Finite Element techniques, shock-absorbing polymers and novel 3D structures for anti-impact applications, wireless charging for health care applications, active thermal clothing systems, and wearable electronics for diverse uses. More recently, her research team has made significant progress in developing bio-based dyes and adopting eco-friendly approaches to generate new feedstocks from waste materials. Her research has been supported by multiple funding bodies, including the UK Dstl/MoD, Textiles Future Forum, Innovate UK, ESPRC, NERC, AHRC, IBioIC, Oil & Gas UK, Scottish Funding Council and various company partners such as Schfiled Dyers & Finishers, Harris Tweed, Iron and Ocean Ltd., Brilliant Dyes Ltd, and many more.

Prof. Sun has served as an external examiner for PhD candidates at universities both in the UK and internationally. She is a member of the EPSRC College and the Fiber Society, serves as Associate Editor for AUTEX Research Journal and Editor for the Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology, and sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Industrial Textiles.

Experience

  • 2025–present
    Chair professor, Heriot-Watt University
  • 2017–2025
    Associate professor, Heriot-Watt University
  • 2010–2017
    Assistant Professor of Textile Materials and Engineering, Heriot-Watt University
  • 2008–2009
    Postdoctoral Research Assistant, the University of Manchester

Education

  • 2007 
    Heriot-Watt University, Ph.D
  • 1989 
    Qingdao University, BSc

Publications

  • 2017
    Abrasion behaviour of dyed fabrics made of recycled and standard cotton fibres, Jounal of Textile Engineering and Fashion Technology
  • 2017
    Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis of Knitted Fabric, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry
  • 2017
    Abrasion behaviour of dyed fabrics made of recycled and standard cotton fibres, Jounal of Textile Engineering and Fashion Technology
  • 2017
    Synthesis of Functional Nanocapsules and their Application to Cotton Fabric for Thermal Management, Cellulose
  • 2017
    Ballistic Performance of Angle-interlock Woven Fabrics, Journal of The Textile Institute
  • 2017
    . Thermal Analysis of Conventional and Performance Plain Woven Fabrics by Finite Element Method, Journal of Industrial Textiles
  • 2017
    Ian B Butler, Geometrical modelling and thermal analysis of nonwoven fabrics, Journal of Industrial Textiles
  • 2017
    Fabric Handle as a Concept for High Performance Apparel. In 'High-performance apparel: materials, developments and applications', Elsevier
  • 2017
    Thermal analysis of temperature responsive fibrous materials. In: Thermal analysis of textiles and fibers, Elsevier
  • 2016
    Ballistic Performance of Angle-interlock Woven Fabrics, Journal of The Textile Institute
  • 2016
    Ballistic performance evaluation of woven fabrics based on experimental and numerical approaches. In: Advanced fibrous composite materials for ballistic protection, Woodhead Publishing Ltd
  • 2016
    Surface modification of natural fibers using plasma treatment. In: Biodegradable green composites, John Wiley & Sons
  • 2016
    3D Printing for Garments Production: An Exploratory Study, Journal of Fashion Technology & Textile Engineering
  • 2016
    Development of Plug-ins to Predict Effective Thermal Conductivity of Woven and Microencapsulated Phase Change Composite, Journal of Composite Materials
  • 2016
    Recycled jean: Property Comparison to Standard Jean, Journal of Fashion Technology & Textile Engineering
  • 2016
    Automated model generation of knitted fabric for thermal conductivity prediction using finite element analysis and its applications in composites, Journal of industrial textiles
  • 2016
    Finite Element Analysis of Functional Yarn with Thermal Management Characteristics, Thermochimica Acta
  • 2015
    Porosity prediction of plain weft knitted fabrics, Fibers
  • 2015
    Development of thermal stable multifilament yarn containing microencapsulated phase change materials, Fibers and polymers
  • 2015
    Computational analysis of effective thermal conductivity of microencapsulated phase change material coated composite fabrics, Journal of composite materials
  • 2015
    FE analysis of thermal properties of woven fabric constructed by yarn incorporated with microencapsulated phase change materials, Fibers and polymers
  • 2015
    Three-dimensional textiles for protective clothing. In: Advances in 3D textiles, Woodhead publishing Ltd
  • 2014
    Development of thermo-regulating polypropylene fibre containing microencapsulated phase change materials, Renewable energy
  • 2014
    Engineering and analysis of gripping fabrics for improved ballistic performance, Journal of composite materials
  • 2013
    Investigating ballistic impact on fabric targets with gripping yarns, Fibers and Polymers
  • 2013
    An investigation of continuous finishing and dyeing on the mechanical properties and handle of cotton fabrics, Fibers and Polymers
  • 2013
    Finite element simulation of projectile perforation through a ballistic fabric, Textile research journal
  • 2013
    2D/3D woven fabrics for ballistic protection, JEC composites magazine
  • 2013
    Effect of inter-yarn friction on ballistic performance of woven fabrics. In: Polymeric protective technical textiles, Surry UK: Smithers Rapra
  • 2013
    Finite element analysis of thermal conductivity and thermal resistance behaviour of woven fabric, Computational materials science
  • 2012
    Plasma modification of Kevlar fabrics for ballistic applications, Textile research journal
  • 2012
    The development of polymer composite filament for thermo-sensitive applications, Polymers and polymer composites
  • 2012
    Cotton fabric mechanical properties affected by post-finishing processes, Fibers and Polymers
  • 2010
    Construction of 2D/3D textiles for ballistic protection, World journal of engineering
  • 2010
    Ballistic performance of plasma treated Kevlar fabrics, World journal of engineering
  • 2009
    Textile mateirals and personal protection equipment for police and military personnel, Journal of Xi'an polytechnic university
  • 2006
    Investigation of the effect of continuous finishing on the mechanical properties and the handle of wool fabrics, Fibers and polymers
  • 2006
    Fabric surface properties affected by low temperature plasma treatment, Journal of the materials processing technology
  • 2005
    Investigating the plasma modification of natural fibre fabrics-the effect on fabric surface and mechanical properties, Textile research journal
  • 2004
    The effect of low temperature plasma treatment on the scouring and dyeing processes of natural fabrics, Textile research journal
  • 2001
    Plasam technology and fabric processing, Foreign textile thchnology
  • 1998
    Investigating the productivity of 36.9Tex OE yarn in BC200-SUN spinning machine, Jinan textile technology

Grants and Contracts

  • 2017
    Smart Charging System for FTW
    Role:
    Pincipal Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Scottish Funding Council
  • 2017
    Supportive Sports Socks
    Role:
    Pincipal Invesgitagor
    Funding Source:
    Scottish Funding Council
  • 2017
    Environment Responsive Textiles
    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Scottish Funding Council
  • 2017
    Offshore Survival Garment
    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Ois and Gas Innovation Centre
  • 2016
    Textile waste disposal
    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Harris Tweed, Textiles Future Forum
  • 2012
    Encapsulation of PCMs for temperature regulated textiles
    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Heriot-Watt CDI theme
  • 2012
    Design hard body armour with improved ballistic performance and flexibility
    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Dstl/MoD UK

Professional Memberships

  • Higher Education Academy
  • Fibre society

Contact Danmei for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision