NEW USE FOR FLAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 7

NEW USE FOR FLAX.

CELLULOSE EXTRACTION. MAKING ARTIFICIAL SILK. A demonstration of the actual manufacture of artificial silk yarns and cellulose hydrate sheets from New Zealand flax (phormium tenax), was given in the Dominion Laboratory by Dr. J. W. Brown, a scientist from Australia, who is visiting New Zealand. The gathering which witnessed the demonstration included Hon. R. Masters, Minister in Charge of the Department of Industries and Commerce; Sir Apirana Ngata, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., Dr. E. ?iarsden and Mr. R. L. Andrews, assistant chemist at the Dominion Laboratory. The three distinct stages of processing were fully explained and demonstrated by Dr. Brown. These are the extraction of the cellulose from the flax leaves, the preparation of the colloidal cellulose solution, and the precipitation of the cellulose from the solution in the form of filament artificial silk yarns and transparent cellulose hydrate sheets. Of particular interest was a demonstration of Dr. Brown's process for the after-troatment of cellulose hydrate sheets to render them suitable for the wrapping of butter for export. This serves as a preventive against wood taint and contamination from associated substances. The demonstrator explained that phormium tenax was an eminently suitable form of plant life fqj- raw material for the production of artificial silk yarns and cellulose hydrate sheets. The finished products were inspected, and ifc was pointed out that they compared favourably with similar goods produced in Great Britain and in the United States from white spruce. The mechanical processes were explained by Mr. A. K. WiUson, chief engineer of the Australian company which has been formed to exploit Dr. Brown's inventions.