AMERICAN CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 297, 15 December 1936, Page 7

AMERICAN CLAIM.

NEW SYNTHETIC WOOL

Cellulose Product With Many

Natural Virtues.

MUCH EXPERIMENT NEEDED

United Press Association. —Copyright,

NEW YORK, December 14,

The Australian Associated Press learns that artificial wool of exceptionally high quality has beeii perfected'by the Dupont chemical interests.

It is a cellulose product, and unlike natural wool, which has a. scaly fibre, this has a smooth, continuous fibre which, however, weaves exceptionally well, and in appearance is said to achieve the socalled zephyr quality of the finest Merino woven fabrics.

It requires no preparatory bath before weaving, as does rayon, and ;s said to be of virtually the same warmth as wool. The producers have not, however, determined its exact wearing qualities, which are now being exhaustively tested. At least one of the leading textile mills, which has made weaving tests, has expressed great satisfaction with its virtues.

The estimated cost at the present time is the same as that of high quality wools, but it is expected that under commercial conditions it will be considerably lower. .Experts informed the correspondent that it would be at least ten years, however, before the full force of the new material would be felt in the textile world.

It was pointed out that at present producers of fine Merino, if they have not unduly increased production, have little to fear from the new product, which it is felt will, like rayon, extensively widen the potential wool consumption. It is understood that Duponts have shown extraordinary caution and secrecy about the product, allowing little of it to be shown. They are determined to spend several years in extensive experimenting before attempting active entry into the textile market.. UNSHRINKABLE WOOL. BRITISH EFFORTS PROGRESS. LONDON, December 14. The Wool Industries Research Association's report announces that the clilorination process of producing unshrinkable wool has reached the stage at which commercialisation is possible. Additional improvements are expected as the result of recent investigation into bleaching with sulphite solution to prevent yellowing after washing. The report adds that much attention has been given to scientific measurement of the characteristics of wool fibre, which is the basis of the scientific study of wool between workers in different countries, and may establish very fruitful contact between the manufacturer and the pastoralist, enabling the .wool grower to supply the manufacturer's wants.