CELLULOSE FROM FLAX

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21258, 1 September 1934, Page 14

CELLULOSE FROM FLAX

POSSIBILITY OF I'SK DISCUSSED MAM FAC'II KE OF PAI'LK AND RAYON SILK [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.l WELLINGTON, August 31. "The possibility of using 'New Zealand flax extensively for the manufacture of cellulose pulp is discussed in the annual report; of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, laid on the table in the House of Representatives to-day. The report says that cellulose pulp prepared from phormium has been frequently advocated in the past as a material for paper making, and more recently its use for the manufacture of rayon silk) has been suggested. Two methods have been proposed for the carrying out of pulping—one in which green, untreated flax is subjected direct to the action of chemicals in a digester; the other in which the flax is first treated mechanically to separate the fibre from the waste material of the leaf and. fibre, and then subjected to digestion with chemicals. The advantage of the first is that ■ there is practically no mechanical loss of cellulose. With the second, while | tome cellulose is Jost in the mechani- j fat pre-treatment, there is a much re- j duccd bulk of material to be digested, | «nd the pulp obtained is of better col- ! our and should require less bleaching. ; The cost of the chemical for pro- j ceasing is high, and even if the flax j could be delivered at the works for i 10s a ton it seems improbable that | the bleached pulp could be produced J for much less than ,£lB a ton at the works. ■The price of wood cellulose pulp landed in Great Britain is from £ll to £ls a ton. It is essential, therefore, 1o know whether phormium pulp is superior to wood pulp for any purposes, and whether it will, command a higher price. These questions must be answered in the affirmative before the manufacture of pulp from flax can be profitably undertaken in New Zealand. It has been claimed, says the report, that the pulp would have a special, value: — H) For the manufacture of special grades of paper—electrical insulation paper, card index, etc. <2) As a strengthening agent mixed with short-fibred pulps for paper manufacture. " ■ *,.'*> sjfj f.'i) For the manufacture of rayon or other similar material. < The only method by which these ; points can be determined is by pre- , paring high-grade pulp on a semi-corn-mercinl scale and submitting bulk , samples lo prospective users, continues the report. This could be done by any group of men who desired to l form a company for a moderate outlay i by utilising the technical service of ; some reputable pulping laboratory in ( Great, Britain or Sweden, with ar- . rangements for supervision. If paper manufacturers and other manufactur- [ ors agree that flax pulp so prepared ' has special properties, as if quite I possibly may have, and are prepared ( to pay a definite price considerably in j advance of that of the best chemical ■, wood-pulp, intending manufacturers of , flax pulp could be sure of their posi- ', lion. Without; such authenticated ' knowledge, so-called estimates of: the • Moots obtainable by pulping are mere i ©tsraans or gaessea, .1