ARTIFICIAL SILK.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1925, Page 4

ARTIFICIAL SILK.

INTERESTING DETAILS.

SAX I‘\RAXCISCO } January 12.

The nons that premiums have be.en offered for deliveries of artificial silk while flie rest of the American textile industry is just emerging from, one of the worst depressions of its history is interesting, and may be sign fit-ant. In a statement just issued hearing on the situation, -Mr Roger lfabson, the wellknown American statistician, clears np several misunderstandings regarding the newest textile which is in such enormous demand in America.

“Although the process for making artificial silk has been known for twenty years the industry lias not developed to any extent until the postwar period,” Mr Babson said. “Some 8,000,000 pounds of artificial silk was made in the United States during 1920. Production last year recited 35,380,000 pounds, and this year will doubtless show an even greater increase. American production last year equalled twothirds as much at the real silk imported, while world production of artificial silk totalled as much as real silk produced. What was regarded four years ago as an infant industry in the United States must to-day he looked upon as a lusty -infant whose growth amazes even its parents. Tile baby industrv grew so fast, in fact, that the textile manufacturers and dealers did not even have time to name it. the-fii-st name, ‘ glos,’ did not seem to suit and while the second, 'artificial silk,’ has been used more generally than any otlier, it is not a correct classification. The new fabric is no more artificial silk than it is artificial cotton. It is a distinct textile made of cellulose. Some of it is manufactured from a cotton base by nitro-c-ellulose processes. A cheaper grade is made from wood fibre by the viscose process. Manufacturers and dealers have now named it ‘rayon,’ and it is hoped that it wall soon he known and called by this, its

own name. DECOB AT IVE EEFECTS. “ Having somewhat the lustre of the real silk, the new product is being used to lend decorative effect to other fabrics. Lacking the necessary strength to lie used alone for most sorts of clothing, it is being mixed with cotton or wool or combined with these fabrics where tensile strength is not needed. The question as to its effect oil other textiles naturally arises. It seems to compete most directly with silk, hut when its actual uses arc analysed it is seen that it is employed where real silk would be too expensive any way. The two materials really have distinctive fields. There will always ho a demand for real silk, witli its greater tensile strength and other qualities* which have not been reproduced in newer products. Bayou tends to supplement the silk industry rather than to compete with it. Of course there is direct competition in some instances, hut it is not anywhere as serious ns superficial consideration might suggest.

“ The cotton and woolen interests have watched this new development and have been trying to find out just how it will affect them. Bayou is being produced ill certain European countries, notably Italy al a very low cost, so low in fact as to compete directly with some grades of English cotton varus so far as price is concerned. The Italian product is made largely from wood pi up by the viscose process. Water power is plcntilul in Italy, and abundant cheap labour has enabled them to get their costs down to a minimum. As processes are further perfected and costs are reduced it is possible that rayon may come info direct competition with cotton lot ccitain purposes as lar as Europe is concerned. Most manufacturers of cotton. however, have benefited so far bv the introduction and popularity of flic new product. I hey have incorpoiaU»l rayon with cotton to get designs ami effects heretofore impossible or impi a I lira] In a real sense the added beauty gained by cnm.biiimg rayon with cotton have acted as stimulus to the demand for certain types of cotton goods. “Bayou, then,” concluded Mr Babson, “is neither an imitation of silk iior a substitute for cotton. It is an entirelv new product contributed by science to the textile industry. It is relatively free from price fluctuation, and promises to add materially to the variety obtainable in textiles. As an industry, rayon is enjoying a growth hardly surpassed hv any oilier industry in the present decade.”