FLAX INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 155, 28 March 1932, Page 8

FLAX INDUSTRY

Treatment of Fibre SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH • Some Good Results There is more research going on in New Zealand to-day to determine the best methods of converging the variety of New Zealand flax known as phormium tenax into a first-class commercial produce than ever before in the history of the industry, and the results already obtained by a number of investigators indicate that there are vast future possibilities for this unique plant. It has been established that fine artificial silk and valuable cellulose by-products can be manufactured from our flax, but some of the investigators believe that the first, step in the development of the Industry must be in the production of a high quality fibre capable of gaining a world market against such competitors as Manila and sisal hemps. One of the experimenters who holds this view and has now reached a stage in his researches that gives encouragement to the hope that the flax industry is on the eve of a healthy revival is Mr. J. H. Nightingall, an Australian industrial chemist, who came to New Zealand over a year ago to introduce new methods of leather manufacture. Having completed his work with the leather manufacturers, Mr. Nightingall turned his attention to flax and was so impressed with the possibilities of flax that he has spent many months carrying out experiments at his own expense. * , , Uniform Fibre Produced. In his laboratory at Mount Albert, Auckland, Mr. Nightingall has devised new methods of bleaching the fibre and, applying his treatment on a small commercial scale, has produced a bale of fibre of a surprisingly uniform standard that surpasses the high-grade,. sun-bleached fibre produced under -the older and more costly methods. Microscopic tests revealed that the fibre of the flax is composed of some 300 finer fibres, held' together by a cellulose sheath, and it was the recognition of the fact that the. bleaching methods formerly employed dissolved this cellulose sheath, weakening the fibre and subsequently leading to discolouration, that gave him the clue to his successful treatment. After numerous experiments he evolved a chemical process that he firmly believes will lead to commercial success. Not only does the process turn out fibre of great tensile strength and of a colour nearly resembling the clear white sisal hemp that now dominates the market, but it will enable flax to be treated and made ready for market in less than a working day, whereas under the present methods anything from eight to 14 days are required. Test of Breaking Strains. Au interesting fact about the treatment i < that when tested for strength the ti. e shows a greater breaking strain after treatment than before. In each of the tests a twisted strand of fibre about half the thickness of the ordinary binder-twine was used. Three tests with fibre as it came, from the mill stripper gave an average breaking strain of 84lb, and three tests of the bleached fibre averaged 1331 b. At. the peak of the industry when millers were able to get as much as £6O a ton for their product the old methods sufficed, but now that it was not possible to get more than £2O a ton the need for scientific methods was urgent. Thousands of tons of loose fibre had been lost by the mills in the past. Experiments had shown him that the waste from the strippers contained valuable by-products. When treated, this waste produced a binding agent, containing cellulose and other ingredients, and when these were extracted there remained a pulp that could be converted into a wall board which he believed would prove to be sound and moisture-proof. He had also found that while most of the fibre was capable of being manufactured into high quality ropes and twines, there was some of it that did not reach that standard and could very well be the subject of further research. For one thing, he had found that some of this inferior material had such an affinity for oil that it was capable of being made into excellent waste. The use of such by-products would help to meet the costs of running the mill and make it possible to manufacture highgrade fibre even at present market prices. Mr. Nightingall said be believed that phorniium tenax was going to be a great thing again for New Zealand, but ultimate success would be achieved only as a result of tlie combined work of a number of men dojng research work with a common object. He said he was greatly indebted to the Department of Scientific aud Industrial Research for the assistance and encouragement he had received. It was very refreshing to find a Government department that was so active and interested in assisting industries to place their products in''the markets of the world at a competitive price.