Professor Franz-Josef Wortmann

Franz Wortmann graduated in Chemistry from RWTH Aachen University of Technology (Germany) in 1978 and obtained his PhD in Polymer Chemistry with Prof. H. Zahn at DWI (German Wool Research Institute) in Aachen in 1981. During and after his PhD-studies he spent 3 years as Visiting Scholar at CSIRO Division of Textile Physics and at the School of Textile Technology of the University of New South Wales in Sydney (Australia). In 1983 he re-joined DWI as Research Group Leader and in 1995 became Head of Department for "Special Fibre Analytics and Cosmetics", conducting research and development projects with major, international, textile and cosmetic companies. Further pursuing also his academic career he obtained his habilitation (venia legendi) in chemistry and was appointed Private Lecturer in 1991 and Adjunct Professor in 1997 at RWTH Aachen. He is co-founder and partner of Fiantec Ltd., a German company specializing in claim support for the hair cosmetic industry. In 2006 he was appointed Professor of Fibre and Textile Technology at Textiles and Paper. His work is strongly industry-focussed and his research group develops and conducts a variety of projects in the areas of textiles as well of hair cosmetics.

• Structure/property relationships in biological fibres and composites
• Structural mechanics of natural and synthetic, semi-crystalline fibres
• Thermal analysis of polymers, incl. reaction kinetics
• Identification and discrimination of textile fibres, incl. forensic, historical, and archaeological aspects
• Fibre and textile technology of animal fibres, namely wool and cashmere
• Properties of human hair and its performance in cosmetic processes

• F.J. Wortmann, G. Wortmann, E. Schulze zur Wiesche Spatial probing of the properties of the human hair surface using Wilhelmy force profiles Langmuir (2010) DOI: 10.1021/1a9043842
• F.J. Wortmann, M. Stapels, L. Chandra Modeling the time-dependent water wave stability of human hair J.Cosmet.Sci. (2010) 61: 31-38
• R. Ibbett, D. Domvoglou, F.J. Wortmann, K.C. Schuster Carbon-13 solid state NMR investigation and modeling of the morphological reorganization in regenerated cellulose fibers induced by controlled acid hydrolysis Cellulose (2010) DOI: 10.1007/s10570-010-9397-7
• F.J. Wortmann, M. Stapels, L. Chandra Humidity-dependent bending recovery and relaxation of human hair J.Appl.Polym.Sci. (2009) 113: 3336-3344
• F.J. Wortmann, C. Popescu, G. Sendelbach Effects of reduction on the denaturation kinetics of human hair Biopolymers (2008) 89: 600-605
• C. Popescu, P. Budrugeac, F.J. Wortmann, L. Miu, D.E. Demco, M. Baias Assessment of collagen-based materials which are supports of cultural and historical objects Poly.Deg.Stab. (2008) 93: 976-982
• F.J. Wortmann, G. Sendelbach, C. Popescu Fundamental DSC investigations of α-keratinous materials as basis for the interpretation of specific effects of chemical, cosmetic treatments on human hair J.Cosmet.Sci. (2007) 58: 311-317
• F.J. Wortmann, A. Hullmann, C. Popescu Water Management of Human Hair IFSCC Mag. (2007) 10: 317-320
• F.J. Wortmann Temperature- and humidity-induced transitions in α-keratinous materials Int.J.Sheep and Wool Sci. (2007) 55: Article 1
• F.J. Wortmann, C. Popescu, G. Sendelbach Nonisothermal denaturation kinetics of human hair and the effects of oxidation Biopolymers (2006) 83: 630-635
• F.J. Wortmann, M. Stapels, R. Elliott, L. Chandra The effects of water on the glass transition of human hair Biopolymers (2006) 81: 371-375
• I. Berndt, C. Popescu, F.-J. Wortmann, W. Richtering Mechanics versus thermodynamics: Swelling in multiple-temperature-sensitive core-shell microgels Angew.Chem.Int.Ed. (2006) 45: 1081-1085
• F.-J. Wortmann, A. Schwan-Jonczyk Investigating hair properties relevant for hair "handle" - I.Hair diameter, bending and frictional properties Int.J.Cosmet.Sci. (2006) 28: 61-68
• F.-J. Wortmann, M. Stapels, R. Elliot, L. Chandra The glass transition of human hair as a function of water regain Biopolymers (2006) 81: 371-375
• H. Zahn, F.-J. Wortmann, H. Hoecker Considerations of the occurrence of loricrin and involucrin in the cuticular cell envelope of merino wool Int.J.Sheep and Wool Sci. (2005) 53: No.1, Paper 2
• A.M. Zalfen, G. Wortmann, F.-J. Wortmann Electrophoretical method for assessing the damage induced by hair bleaching SOEFW-Journal (2005) 131: 40-44