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Wilson College of Textiles 
Textiles History

Ralph McGregor

Cone Mills Professor Emeritus, Textiles, NC State

Ralph McGregor, Born on? – Died June 16, 2008
Years of Service Textiles NCSU 1970-1998

Ralph McGregor, Professor Emeritus and Cone Mills Distinguished Professor of Textile Chemistry, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, the son of Robert and Eveline McGregor on February 11, 1932.  He was educated in the local schools.  He was educated at Leeds University where he graduated first in his class in Chemical Engineering in 1953 and earned First Class Honors.  He immediately pursued his Ph.D. and completed the degree in 1958 while also finding time to teach chemistry at a local school.  Following graduation, he accepted an appointment to work with the Zentrum für Applicationstechnik, Ciba AG, Basel, Switzerland.  In 1962, he was awarded the Perkin Travel Fellowship.  He was a lecturer in fiber and polymer science at the University of Manchester Institute for Science and Technology (UMIST) from 1959 – 1968 before leaving for the United States and joining the Allied Chemical Co.  Research Laboratory in Petersburg, VA where he worked with Lee Rush.

In 1970, he accepted a position to join the faculty as Associate Professor of Textile Chemistry at North Carolina State University.  He resumed his distinguished career of research in the kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of diffusion and sorption of dye molecules in fiber-forming polymers. He was promoted to Professor in 1974.  In 1976, he was presented the Research Medal of the Worshipful Company of Dyers (London).

Ralph McGregor Named Cone Mills Distinguished Professor of Textile Chemistry School of Textiles News 1978 (1)

In 1978, in honor of his work, he was named Cone Mills Distinguished Professor of Textile Chemistry. (1)  His research continued as he published numerous papers and was engaged as a consultant by a number of companies including Allied, DuPont, Tennessee Eastman and American Enka.

In 1981, Ralph and Dr. Richard Gilbert received an NSF grant to conduct research at the Tokyo Institute of Technology with Professor Toshiro Iijima.  They studied the interaction of dyes with textile fibers.  In order to prepare for this visit, Dr. McGregor studied Japanese through the North Carolina State University Japan Center. (2)

Ralph  McGregor holding the “Olney Cookie” presented at a faculty reception

The most honored award in the AATCC is the Olney Medal established in 1944 to honor Dr. Louis Atwell Olney, founder and first president of AATCC.  Ralph was named the recipient in 1984, joining several previous winners from NC State: Charles Goldthwaite, 1962 and Hank Rutherford, 1974. (3)  His presentation at the conference was: Coloration of Textiles: Methods, Models and Misperceptions. (4) After the AATCC conference, the faculty honored him with a reception on campus where the Olney Cookie,  a popular decorated chocolate chip cookie of the day was presented.  The cookie is a copy of the real Olney Medal.

Textile research in the 1980s was given special emphasis by the College of Textiles (5, page 170 and following)  Ralph McGregor established a Consortium for Studies of Color Defects (5, page 178) which included three companies and collaboration with Professor Donald H. Mershon of Psychology.

A National Textile Center – initially a consortium of four southeastern universities was funded with a grant from the US Department of Commerce. (5, page 211) McGregor and others benefited from this and did significant research in the study of real-time dye bath control.  Papers and a US patent were only part of the outcome of this work. The members of the research team formed a new company, HueMetrix that worked closely with sponsoring companies.  An industrial system was installed in at least one NC dye house.

Professor McGregor was married to Maureen McGaul McGregor.  There are three children: Alasdair, Ralph, and Francine.

Patent:

  1. McGregor, Ralph, Manpreet Singh Arora, and Warren J Jasper, Closed-Loop Textile Dyeing Process Utilizing Real-Time Metered Dosing of Dyes and Chemicals, USP 5,846,265, Filed: Jul 26,           1996, Issued Dec 8, 1998.

Papers (more than 80):

  1. Berkstresser, G., Beck, K., Smith, B., Jasper, W., & McGregor, R. (1993). On-Line Continuous Determination of Individual Dye Concentrations from Spectra of Dye Mixtures in Solution: Deviations from Beer’s Law.  ACS North Carolina Sectional Meeting, Raleigh, NC.
  2. Berkstresser, G., Beck, K., Smith, B., McGregor, R., & Jasper, W. (1993). Novel Approaches for the Real-
  3. Time Prediction of Dye Concentrations in Three Dye Mixtures. . American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists National Meeting, Montreal, Quebec.
  4. Beck, K.R., Lefeber, M., Hunter, W., Smith, C.B., & McGregor, R. (1994). Flow Injection Analysis of Dyebaths (pdf) . Textile Chemist and Colorist , 26 (5) , 30-34.
  5. Reddy, M., Lee, G., McGregor, R., & Jasper, W. (1995). Modeling of the Batch Dyeing Process. . Proceedings of the American Control Conference.
  6. Reddy, M., Jasper, W., McGregor, R., & Lee, G. (1996). Modeling Dye Mixtures in the Batch Dyeing Process. . World Automation Congress, Montpelier, France.
  7. McGregor, R., Arora, M., & Jasper, W. (1997). Control of the Dyeing of Nylon by Dye and Chemical Metering. Textile Research Journal, 67 (8), 609-616.
  8. Snyder, W., Berkstresser, G., Smith, B., Beck, K., McGregor, R., & Jasper, W. (1997). The Correlation of Optical and Kinetic Deviations from Ideality in Fiber Reactive Dye Mixtures. Textile               Research Journal, 67 (8), 571-579.
  9. Reddy, M., McGregor, R., Jasper, W., & Lee, G. (1997). Effects of Temperature and Salt on Dye Mixtures in the Batch Dyeing Process: Textile Research Journal, 62 (2), 109-117.
  10. Beck, K.R., Jasper, W., Lee, G., McGregor, R., Smith, B. (1998). Real-time analysis and control of batch dyeing processes. International Textile Bulletin, 88-93.The following were obtained by doing a computer search. (6)
  11. Alberghina, G., Chen, S. L., Fisichella, S., Iijima, T., McGregor, R., Rohner, R. M., et al. (1988). Donnan approach to equilibrium sorption – interactions of cationic dyes with acrylic fibers. Textile Research Journal, 58 (6), 345-354.
  12. Allen, E. H., Faulkner, D. L., Goldfinger.G, & McGregor, R. (1973). Effect of continuous medium on color of discontinuous substrates .4. effect of refractive-index of continuous medium. J Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 17(3), 873-884. doi:10.1002/app.1973.070170317
  13. Allen, E. H., McGregor, R., Faulkner, D. L., & Goldfinger.G. (1972). Effect of continuous medium on color of discontinuous substrates .3. observations regarding dry and wet reflectances of textile substrates. Journal of Polymer Science Part B-Polymer Letters, 10(3), 203-&. doi:10.1002/pol.1972.110100310
  14. Arora, M. S., & McGregor, R. (1995). Dimensionless groups for the equilibrium sorption of polysulfonated acid dyes by polyamides. Textile Research Journal, 65(7), 385-391. doi:10.1177/004051759506500703
  15. Arora, M. S., & McGregor, R. M. (1997). Dimensionless model for the equilibrium sorption of mixtures of acid dyes by polyamides from finite dyebaths. Textile Research Journal, 67(6), 389-396.
  16. Beck, K., Jasper, W. J., Lee, G., McGregor, R., & Smith, B. (1994). Real-time data-acquisition, theoretical modeling and adaptive-control of batch dyeing processes (reprinted from text chemist and colorist, vol 25,1993). Textile Chemist and Colorist, 26(6), 29-29.
  17. Berkstresser, G. A., Beck, K. R., Smith, C. B., McGregor, R., & Jasper, W. (1993). Novel approaches for the real-time prediction of dye concentrations in 3-dye mixtures. AATCC 1993 International Conference & Exhibition – Books of Papers, , 108-114.
  18. Freeman, H. S., Kim, S. D., Gilbert, R. D., & McGregor, R. (1991). Arylazo dyes containing a built-in hindered-amine moiety. Dyes and Pigments, 17(2), 83-100.
    doi:10.1016/0143-7208(91)87023-G
  19. Goldfinger.G, Lau, K. C., & McGregor, R. (1973). Effect of distribution of colorant on color of fibers. Journal of Polymer Science Part C-Polymer Letters, 11(7), 481-484. doi:10.1002/pol.1973.130110711
  20. Goldfinger.G, Lau, K. C., & McGregor, R. (1974). Effect of distribution of colorant on color of fibers. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 18(6), 1741-1751. doi:10.1002/app.1974.070180613
  21. Guion, T. H., Hossain, T. M. A., McGregor, R., & Thagard, J. R. (1973). Site mechanisms for dyeing of acrylic-polymer fibers. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 89(11), 409-410.
  22. Guion, T. H., & McGregor, R. (1974). Distribution of dye and inorganic-ions between solid polymers and solutions .3. C I basic blue 22 and Acrilan 16 fibers. Textile Research Journal, 44(6), 439-445. doi:10.1177/004051757404400606
  23. Hamada, K., Amachi, K., Yonetake, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1987). Translational and rotational diffusion of spin probes in nylon films. Polymer Journal, 19(6), 701-708.  doi:10.1295/polymj.19.701
  24. Hamada, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1985). Effects of water on the mobility of nonionic spin probes in nylon-6 film. Polymer Journal, 17(12), 1245-1251. doi:10.1295/polymj.17.1245
  25. Hamada, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1986). Mobility of spin probes in nylon films .1. nonionic spin probes. Macromolecules, 19(5), 1443-1448. doi:10.1021/ma00159a027
  26. Hamada, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1987). Effects of hydrogen-bonds on the mobility of spin probes in nylon films. Polymer Journal, 19(6), 709-717. doi:10.1295/polymj.19.709
  27. Hamada, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1987). Mobility of anionic spin probes in water-containing nylon-6 film. Journal of Polymer Science Part B-Polymer Physics, 25(6), 1299-1310.  doi:10.1002/polb.1987.090250608
  28. Hamada, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1987). Mobility of spin probes in nylon films .2. anionic spin probes. Macromolecules, 20(1), 215-220. doi:10.1021/ma00167a039
  29. Hamada, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1988). Mobility of spin probes having a primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amino group in drawn and undrawn nylon-6 film. Journal of Polymer Science Part B- Polymer Physics, 26(2), 421-432. doi:10.1002/polb.1988.090260215
  30. Hamada, K., Iijima, T., & McGregor, R. (1988). Mobility of spin probes having an amide group in nylon films. Polymer, 29(1), 93-98. doi:10.1016/0032-3861(88)90205-4
  31. Harwood, R. J., McGregor, R., & Peters, R. H. (1972). Adsorption of cationic dyes by acrylic films .1. sorption isotherms. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 88(6), 216-&.
  32. Harwood, R. J., Peters, R. H., & McGregor, R. (1972). Adsorption of cationic dyes by acrylic films .2. kinetics of dyeing. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 88(8), 288-&.
  33. Hopper, M. E., McGregor, R., & Peters, R. H. (1970). Some observations on concentration dependence of diffusion coefficients of acid dyes in nylon. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 86(3), 117-&.
  34. Jadhav, J. S., McGregor, R., & Mahajan, I. Y. (1965). Permeation of dyes through polymer films .2. chlorazol sky blue ff through cellulose. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 61(515P), 2569-&. doi:10.1039 /tf9656102569
  35. Kim, S., Freeman, H. S., Gilbert, R. D., & McGregor, R. (1988). Synthesis of colored spin probes for polymer substrates. Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, 196, 39-CELL.
  36. Koksal, G., Smith, W. A., Fathi, Y., Lu, J. C. Y., & McGregor, R. (1998). A case study in off-line quality control: Characterization and optimization of batch dyeing process design. International Journal of Technology Management, 16(4-6), 358-382. doi:10.1504/IJTM.1998.002676
  37. Kosiyanon, R., & McGregor, R. (1981). Free-volume theory of diffusion – method of predicting activation-energies of diffusion for gases in elastomers. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 26(2), 629-641. doi:10.1002/app.1981.070260222
  38. Lefeber, M. R., Beck, K. R., Smith, C. B., & McGregor, R. (1994). Flow-injection analysis of dyebaths. Textile Chemist and Colorist, 26(5), 30-34.
  39. Lu, J., Spiekermann, C., McGregor, R., & Smith, B. (1995). A novel-approach to modeling and controlling dyeing processes. Textile Chemist and Colorist, 27(3), 31-36.
  40. McGregor, R. (1963). Thermodynamik der farbevorgange .1. absorptionsmodelle. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 46(5), 1463-&. doi:10.1002/hlca.19630460503
  41. McGregor, R. (1966). Explanatory paper on modern theory – theory of dyeing .I. connection between affinity and rate of dyeing. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 82(12), 450-&.
  42. McGregor, R. (1966). A note on acid-base properties of fibers .2. a polyelectrolyte theory of combination of fibers with acids and bases. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 10(12), 1973-&. doi:10.1002/app.1966.070101213
  43. McGregor, R. (1967). Some modern aspects of dyeing theory or things may not be as they seem. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 83(12), 477-&.
  44. McGregor, R. (1967). Theory of dyeing .2. standard affinities standard heats and standard entropies of dyeing for synthetic-polymer fibres and disperse dyes. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 83(2), 52-&.
  45. McGregor, R. (1968). Correction. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 84(8), 436-&.
  46. McGregor, R. (1971). Asymmetry in simple Donnan membrane theories. Textile Research Journal, 41 (11), 943-&. doi:10.1177/004051757104101113
  47. McGregor, R. (1972). Distribution of dye and inorganic ions between solid polymers and solutions .1. corrections for adhering or imbibed solution. Textile Research Journal, 42(3), 172-&. doi:10.1177/004051757204200308
  48. McGregor, R. (1972). Ionizable groups in fibers and their role in dyeing – examination of sorption of anionic dyes by cellulosic fibers and films. Textile Research Journal, 42(9), 536-&. doi:10.1177/004051757204200906
  49. McGregor, R. (1983). Light-absorption of organic colorants, theoretical treatment and empirical rules – fabian,j, hartmann,h. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 105(12), 4127-4128.
  50. McGregor, R., & Adeimy, J. A. (1977). Response of textured yarn properties to process variables in relation to barre .1. experimental-design and dyeing responses for conventional false-twist pin-textured polyester yarns. Textile Research Journal, 47(7), 477-484.
  51. McGregor, R., & Adeimy, J. A. (1977). Response of textured yarn properties to process variables in relation to barre .2. effects of feed-yarn orientation and correlations between yarn responses. Textile Research Journal, 47(8), 516-522.
  52. McGregor, R., Arora, M. S., & Jasper, W. J. (1997). Controlling nylon dyeing by dye and chemical metering. Textile Research Journal, 67(8), 609-616.
  53. McGregor, R., & Ezuddin, K. H. (1974). Distribution of dye and inorganic-ions between cellulose films and aqueous-solutions. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 18(2), 629-632. doi:10.1002/app.1974.070180226
  54. McGregor, R., & Ezuddin, K. H. (1974). Scientific inference and donnan membrane theories of dyeing. Textile Research Journal, 44(1), 43-44.
  55. McGregor, R., Grady, P. L., Montgomery, T., & Adeimy, J. (1977). Response of textured yarn properties to process variables in relation to barre .3. thermomechanical measurements on conventional false-twist pin- textured polyester yarns. Textile Research Journal, 47(9), 598-603.
  56. McGregor, R., & Guion, T. H. (1974). Distribution of dye and inorganic-ions between solid polymers and solutions .2. conventional descriptions of ion-binding. Textile Research Journal, 44(6), 433-438. doi:10.1177/004051757404400605
  57. McGregor, R., & Harris, P. W. (1970). Sorption of ions by polyamides. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 14(3), 513-&. doi:10.1002/app.1970.070140301
  58. McGregor, R., & Iijima, T. (1990). Dimensionless groups for the description of sorption equilibria in dyeing with anionic dyes .1. inorganic co-ion exclusion. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 41(11-12), 2769-doi:10.1002/app.1990.070411122
  59. McGregor, R., & Iijima, T. (1992). Dimensionless groups for the sorption of dye and other ions by polymers .2. hydrochloric-acid, ci acid blue 25, and polyamides with an excess of basic groups. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 45(6), 1011-1021. doi:10.1002/app.1992.070450610
  60. McGregor, R., Iijima, T., Sakai, T., Gilbert, R. D., & Hamada, K. (1984). Studies of the molecular motions of large penetrant molecules in solid polymers by electron-paramagnetic resonance spin-probe techniques. Journal of Membrane Science, 18(MAR), 129-160. doi:10.1016/S0376-7388(00)85030-9
  61. McGregor, R., & Mahajan, I. Y. (1962). Permeation of dyes through polymer films .1. acid dyes through cellulose. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 58(DEC), 2484-&. doi:10.1039/tf9625802484
  62. McGregor, R., Mershon, D. H., & Pastore, C. M. (1994). Perception, detection, and diagnosis of appearance defects in fabrics. Textile Research Journal, 64(10), 584-591.  doi:10.1177/004051759406401006
  63. McGregor, R., & Milicevi.B. (1966). Elektrokinetische untersuchungen an textilen substraten. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 49(7), 2195-&. doi:10.1002/hlca.660490724
  64. McGregor, R., & Milicevi.B. (1966). On enthalpy-entropy relationship. Nature, 211(5048), 523-&. doi:10.1038/211523b0
  65. McGregor, R., & Milicevi.B. (1966). Zur thermodynamisch-phanomenologischen beschreibung der farbevorgange .2. kontinuierliches modellsystem. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 49(4), 1319-&. doi:10.1002/hlca.19660490414
  66. McGregor, R., Nounou, A. E., & Peters, R. H. (1974). Effect of rate of flow on sorption of dye by a nylon fabric from aqueous-solutions. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 90(7), 246-254.
  67. McGregor, R., & Peters, R. H. (1964). Diffusion of dyes in polymer films .4. benzopurine 4b + its meta isomer in cellulose. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 60(503P), 2062-&. doi:10.1039/tf9646002062
  68. McGregor, R., & Peters, R. H. (1966). Factors affecting mobilities of anions in nylon. Nature, 212(5070),1572-&. doi:10.1038/2121572a0
  69. McGregor, R., & Peters, R. H. (1968). Some observations on relation between dyeing properties and fibre structure. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 84(5), 267-&.
  70. McGregor, R., Peters, R. H., & Petropolskaya, J. H. (1962). Diffusion of dyes into polymer films .1. microdensitometric technique. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 58(472), 771-&. doi:10.1039/tf9625800771
  71. McGregor, R., Peters, R. H., & Petropolskaya, J. H. (1962). Diffusion of dyes into polymer films .3. naphthalene scarlet 4r in nylon 6 6. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 58(473), 1054-&. doi:10.1039/tf9625801054
  72. McGregor, R., Peters, R. H., & Varol, K. (1970). Physico-chemical hydrodynamics of dyeing .1. an experimental study of convective diffusion of a dye to an absorbing surface. Journal of the  Society of Dyers and Colourists, 86(10), 437-&.
  73. McGregor, R., Peters, R. H., & Varol, K. (1970). Physico-chemical hydrodynamics of dyeing .2. sorption of disperse dyes by films of methoxymethylnylon 6.6. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 86(10), 442-&.
  74. McGregor, R., Petropolskaya, J. H., & Peters, R. H. (1962). Diffusion of dyes into polymer films .2. Chlorazol sky blue ff into cellulose. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 58(473), 1045-&. doi:10.1039/tf9625801045
  75. McGregor, R., Tamura, K., & Iijima, T. (1987). The graphical evaluation of ionic dye sorption isotherms using dimensionless groups. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 34(8), 2777-2791. doi:10.1002/app.1987.070340813
  76. McGregor, R., Whitney, C. K., & Hamilton, R. L. (1965). Applicability of Fick’s law to diffusion and sorption data. Textile Research Journal, 35(3), 279-&. doi:10.1177/004051756503500312
  77. McGregor.R, Peters, R. H., & Ramachan.Cr. (1968). Diffusion of disperse dyes in polymer films. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 84(1), 9-&.
  78. Milicevi.B, & McGregor, R. (1966). Zur thermodynamisch-phaenomenologischen beschreibung der farbevorange .3. dimensionsanalyse der hydrodynamischen effekte. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 49(7), 2098-&. doi:10.1002/hlca.660490715
  79. Newport, J. F. L., McGregor, R., & Peters, R. H. (1970). Equilibrium sorption behaviour of nylon-6.6 and nylon-6. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 86(9), 407.
  80. Peters, R. H., Petropoulos, J. H., & McGregor, R. (1961). A study of the diffusion of dyes in polymer films by a microdensitometric technique. Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 77(12), 704-714.
  81. Reddy, M., Jasper, W. J., McGregor, R., & Lee, G. (1997). Effects of temperature and salt on dye mixtures in the batch dyeing process. Textile Research Journal, 67(2), 109-117.
  82. Reddy, M., Lee, G., McGregor, R., & Jasper, W. (1995). Modeling of the batch dyeing process 
  83. Snyder, W., Berkstresser, G., Smith, B., Beck, K., McGregor, R., & Jasper, W. (1997). Correlating optical and kinetic deviations from ideality in fiber reactive dye mixtures. Textile Research Journal, 67(8), 571-579.

Books and Book Chapters:

  1. McGregor, R, & W. Walsh, ed., Low water techniques for dyeing and finishing: proceedings of a symposium at NC State University, May 9-10, 1979.
  2. McGregor, R, A Chemical Engineering Approach to Dyeing Problems, Research Monograph M.20, Allied Chemical Corp., Petersburg, VA, 1969.
  3. McGregor, Ralph, Diffusion and Sorption in Fibres and Films, Vol. 1: An Introduction with Particular References to Dyes, Academic Press, London, 1974.
  4. McGregor, Ralph, Chapter: Kinetics and Equilibria, in Dyeing Primer, (1981), AATCC, Research Triangle Park, NC, 40 pages.

Sources:

  1. “Cone Professorship Awarded McGregor,” School of Textiles News, Vol. 10, No. 2, April 1978, page 1.
  2. “Japanese Research Stint Planned by Dr. McGregor,” School of Textile News, Vol. 13, No. 1, January 1981, page 1.
  3. “Ralph McGregor to Receive the Olney Medal,” Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol.16, No. 9, (1984), pages 44, 67-68.
  4. McGregor, Ralph, Olney Medal Address, 1984.
  5. Mock, Gary N., A Century of Progress: The Textile Program North Carolina State University 1899-1999, North Carolina Textile Foundation, Raleigh, 2001.
  6. Jasper, Warren J., personal communication, July 2012