SYNTHETIC YARNS .

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20635, 22 October 1938, Page 7

SYNTHETIC YARNS .

MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA ERECTION OP BIG FACTORIES JAPAN LOSING SILK MARKETS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Oct. 21 A major upheaval of Japan’s economic position through the loss of the huge United States market for raw silk was predicted to-day by American hosiery producers when the Celanese Corporation of America, manufacturers of acetate process yarns and fibres, announced that it was erecting in Virginia a 10,000.000-dollar plan for producing an entirely new synthetic yarn usable in all textile fields. It was also announced that the Dupont company is building a 7,000,-000-dollar plant in Delaware for producing a new synthetic fibre, also adaptable to various textile uses but Intended chiefly, for hosiery, which is virtually the only division of textiles In which rayon has not yet made serious inrodes. Hosiery, especially feminine, has remained nearly exclusively the outlet for raw silk, because the synthetic yarns produced hitherto have been too lustrous, inelastic and insufficiently sheer. The Dupont yarn in experiments has been successful in producing hosiery able to compete with all grades of silk stockings, retailing at one dollar or less. It will be a year before either yarn Is commercially ready. It is estimated that three-quarters of the 100.000.000-dollars worth of raw silk imported annually is used for hosiery, which illustrates the extent of the Japanese loss If * the new yarns justify expectations.