AATCC—the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists—is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit professional association that provides test method development, quality control materials, educational development, and networking for textile and apparel professionals throughout the world.
Activities
AATCC has developed more than 200 textile-related standards, including test methods, evaluation procedures, and monographs. These standards are published each year in the AATCC Technical Manual. All standards are developed and updated by volunteer members, through research committees. All industry stakeholders may participate in the standards-development process.
Before a standard is published in the AATCC Technical Manual, it must be unanimously approved by voting members of the responsible research committee and the Technical Committee on Research (TCR). During the first three years, each new standard is reviewed annually, at which time, on recommendation of the research committee and approval by TCR, it may be reaffirmed, revised, or withdrawn. After the first three years, each standard is reviewed at least every five years. The content of many AATCC methods form the basis of equivalent ISO methods.
AATCC serves as secretary for the US Technical Advisory Committee (TAG) to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) textile test method development. (For many years, AATCC was also secretary of ISO TC38 SC1 and SC2.)
AATCC provides test method training at its laboratories, at members’ facilities, online, and in more than 10 countries around the globe. AATCC also offers test method proficiency programs and quality control products for use in conducting its test methods.
AATCC publishes a bi-monthly magazine, AATCC Review, containing technical articles, feature articles, and news for textile professionals. The Association also publishes the AATCC Journal of Research, a bi-monthly online peer-reviewed research journal with a broad scope. The AATCC News, a newsletter published twice per month, is distributed by e-mail. Other publications include a website, AATCC Blog, books, and training videos.
The association conducts educational programs, such as workshops, seminars, conferences, webinars, and online instruction, on various aspects of textiles. Proficiency programs are available for labs to participate in.
Each year, AATCC honors outstanding members and the greater textile community with many awards, including the Olney Medal for outstanding achievement in textile chemistry. The Millson Award for Invention recognizes outstanding contributions to textile technology, the Harold C. Chapin Award is presented for exemplary service to AATCC, and the J. William Weaver Paper of the Year Award goes to the authors of the best peer-reviewed manuscript published in AATCC Journal of Research during the year. Students are eligible to participate and compete in several awards and competitions, including the C2C Student Design Competition, C2C Student Merchandising Competition, Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Student Paper Competition, Student Chapter Awards, and Outstanding College Graduate of the Year Award. AATCC Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization, was established in 1997 and operates independently in the furtherance of the charitable mission of the association by providing scholarships and research grants to undergraduate and graduate students studying textiles and related fields.
AATCC works in collaboration with other textile associations around the world, including the Textile Institute (UK), Federación Latinoamericana de Químicos y Profesionales Textiles (FLAQT) (Latin American Federation of Textile Chemical Professional Associations), La Asociación Argentina de Químicos y Coloristas Textiles (Argentina), the China Textile Information Center (China), and the Associação Brasileira de Químicos e Coloristas Têxteis (Brazil). In addition, AATCC works with ASTM International, INDA (the Nonwovens Association), the Specialty Graphics Imaging Association (SGIA), the Synthetic Yarn and Fiber Association (SYFA), Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), Inter-Society Color Council (ISCC), the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), TAPPI, 2, the Textile Exchange, and the Nonwovens Institute. Together with its counterpart in the United Kingdom, the Society of Dyers and Colourists, AATCC maintains the Colour Index, an international reference database of pigments and dyes.
Organization
Local sections and student chapters are formed by association members located in a particular geographical area. Sections and chapters further the exchange of textile information by arranging local meetings, lectures, and other technical or social activities. Several sections make up a region.
AATCC is administered by a board of directors, including regional representatives who are elected by the members from their region, and Interest Group Chairs and At-Large members, who are elected from their Interest Groups. Eligible members of all regions elect the AATCC President-Elect. After two years, the President-Elect becomes President, who serves two years in that office before becoming Past-President for an additional two-year term (six years total commitment with specific duties and responsibilities for each office). AATCC staff is based at the AATCC Technical Center and provides administrative assistance to the board.
Research committees, made up of volunteer members, are responsible for test method development. Administrative committees, also consisting of volunteer members, are responsible for the various activities of the association.
There are three Interest Groups within AATCC:
The Chemical Applications Interest Group stimulates and expands its members’ knowledge base of applying chemicals (preparation aids, colorants, finishes, polymers, etc.) to textile substrates. This includes the technologies, equipment, systems, and processes used, as well as the tested physical/mechanical properties of treated materials.
The Concept 2 Consumer® (C2C) Interest Group focuses on the creation of textiles and textile-containing products, from design to retail. C2C activities promote the association to the retail, merchandising, and design communities to increase membership and participation in activities benefiting textile, apparel, and home fashions production.
The Materials Interest Group addresses the latest innovations in fibers and fiber products, including smart textiles, novel fibers, medical/biomedical, and protective textiles. Areas of interest include modifications of existing structures and the creation of unique chemical-, polymer-, and fiber-based materials. The Materials Interest Group concentrates on the science and engineering used to create new materials, along with any technologies, equipment, systems, and processes developed for their commercial production and their tested physical/mechanical properties.
History
AATCC was founded in 1921 by Dr. Louis Atwell Olney, professor, Lowell Technological Institute and other textile professionals in the Boston area (Massachusetts, USA). Since 1964, the association has been headquartered at the AATCC Technical Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. A complete history of AATCC (to 1996) is covered in the book Dyeing for a Living by Mark Clark and published by AATCC.
Membership
AATCC has individual, student, and corporate members in areas of the textile industry such as retail quality control, design, and merchandising; textile and apparel manufacturing; textile fiber, dye, chemical, instrument, and machinery manufacturing; testing labs; and academia.
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