NYLON

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 5

NYLON

A TRIUMPH OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH NOW IN NEW ZEALAND “Nylon,” hailed in America and England as the new high grade fibre for textiles, will first reach New Zealand as bristles in toothbrushes. “Nylon” is a synthetic fibre produced from coal, air and water, and was discovered in 1938 as a result of ten years of intensive research instituted by Messrs du Pont de Nemours. It surpasses in strength and elasticity any known textile fibre, whether cotton, linen, wool, silk or rayon —it is actually one and a-half times stronger than silk. “Nylon” has many uses, it can be produced in filaments as fine as a spider’s web from which yarns of any size can be spun, and also in the form of bristles, rods, sheets, etc. Production and manufacture of “Nylon” yarns, fabrics and bristles is already advanced in U.S.A. Last year the amount produced exceeded 5,000,000 pounds weight. The bulk of this material went into the production of “Nylon” yarn and was used mostly for hosiery. In England today “Nylon” is being manufactured by Imperial Chemical Industries in two forms—in yarn and bristles. The war has restricted the large scale production of “Nylon” yarns, and “Nylon” hosiery will probably not be available until after the war. The whole output of yarn has been taken over by the British Air Department for the manufacture of parachutes. “Nylon” bristle has considerable advantages over hog bristles in toothbrushes—it wears better and does not break off or go soft in service. It absorbs only one fifth as much moisture as hog bristle and absorbs it more slowly. The surface of “Nylon” is smooth and hygienic, is not susceptible to bacterial attack, and does not become soggy and dirty in use. A recent test in a machine simulating the use of a toothbrush, the abrasion and fatigue was such that after 70,000 scrubs, the “Nylon” brush was intact, with every tuft in place and only a few bristles out of alignment, whereas in a high grade hog bristle brush, subjected to the same test the bristles were broken and flattened down. “Nylon” toothbrushes made from this wonderful material are now manufactured in New Zealand and will be released throughout the country during the next few days. They will be individually packaged to reach you in perfect condition, and will cost no more than the ordinary high grade bristle brush. Ask your chemist or dealer to ; show you the new “Nylon” toothbrushes—every genuine “Nylon” brush has the word “NYLON” stamped prominently on the handle.—Advt. I