SYNTHETIC WOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16710, 28 January 1926, Page 5

SYNTHETIC WOOL.

AN UNFAVOURABLE REPORT.

LACK OF DURABILITY ALLEGED

(Australian and N.Z. C~ble Assn-"* MELBOURNE, Jan. 27.

Mr R. J. Fletcher, a prominent analytical and manufacturing chemist, examined recently-arrived samples of synthetic wool. He describes it as a high-grade cotton, treated by a special chemical process. It has some of the qualities of. wool, and has lost some of the good qualities of cotton. It resembles wool only in abearance. The basis of the process of production was the treatment of long-stapled eolton with pure nitroc acid to very cold temperatures. The cost of the process must be very high, and there must inevitably be difficulties in the milling. The cost of manufacture could not be much less than wool. He reports against the product, on the ground of its lack of durability aud tensile strength as compared with natural wool. He describes the new fabric as a waste of good cotton.

LATER.

OPINION OF AUSTRALIAN EXPERTS

NOT A NATURAL COTTON FIBRE

(United Press Association.) Received January 28, 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, January 28

A sample of synthetic wool was submitted to a gathering of wool experts at the wool sales, but they refrained from giving a definite opinion whether it would affect the wool industry in Australia, while agreeing that it had a detracting harshness to the touch, almost a britllencss, and locked the elasticity possessed by merino wools. , MELBOURNE, January 28.

Doctor Campbell, President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Chemical Institute, after an examination of a sample of artificial wool, said he was certain it is a new fabric, not a nalural cotton fibre. He added: "However it is treated it is an artificial product of cellulose, but no chemical analysis or microscopic examination can possibly reveal whether the basic. substance is wood pulp or artificial silk or cotton. It is certainly less suitable for weaving into, human clothing than wool, and there is no possibility of mistaking it for cotton, any more than there is for real wool."