WOOL RESEARCH

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25091, 24 January 1947, Page 2

WOOL RESEARCH

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS DESCRIBED Although at one time it was considered that synthetic wool might re-: place natural wool, it was now realised, that no fibre yet made by man was as ■ perfect as wool. This is the opinion of Miss Helen Thomson, lecturer at; the Home Science School, Otago Uni- ; versity, who has just returned to New Zealand after spending more than two years in research on wool under Professor Speakman in the Department of Textile Industries at the University of Leeds. This department, Miss Thomson was interested to find, was founded and endowed by the Worshipful Company of Clotfiworkers, one of the medieval guilds in London. It is renowned for its research work in textile fabrics, for the practical application of its discoveries, and for its collaboration with industry, particularly in the field of new finishes and treatment of cloths. Research workers- from far and near are found in this department. Besides many from Britain, Miss Thomson had as fellow-workers Indians, Chinese, Egyptians, one or two Czechs, Australians, and one other New Zealander—a man who had been there for some years. Great Advances Great advances have been made recently in connexion with wool and other fabrics, Miss Thomson says. Because of the competition of man-made fibres, a great impetus has been given to the study of wool. One issue dealt with at Leeds was the prevention of shrinkage of wool. Although manmade fibres will not oust wool, research workers feel that it should be realised that these artificial materials will play an important part in the textile economy of the future. The natural and the man-made fibres are considered complementary to each other. The use of seaweed in man-made textiles was described by Miss Thomson. It can be woven with wool and then dissolved out in soap and water, leaving sheer wool fabric soft, light in weight, and of excellent draping quality. Seaweed is use as a background for stitching cotton and silk; the seaweed is dissolved by washing, leaving delicate lace. It is also used in new simplified methods of making crepes, pile fabrics, and astrakhan, and in novel of ornamenting cloths. Peanuts and Feathers Miss Thomson, from her own experience, can vouch for the good quality of wool-like fabrics made from peanuts, after the fat has been extracted. This industry, she feels, may develop extensively, though it has not yet been exploited commercially to any extent; and it is probable that the fibre made from peanuts will be used mostly for blending with other materials. In America research workers are engaged in producing fibres from waste products such as chicken feathers, waste egg-whites, hoofs and horns. More advances in this type of research may be expected in the near future.