ARTIFICIAL WOOL

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1929, Page 3

ARTIFICIAL WOOL

AIADE FROM FIBRE. [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—-Copyngnt). LONDON, October >29. The British United Press correspondent at Roubaix states that the local textile manufacturers are, : concentrating their attention >oh two tories that are producing /.■ wool. Thus far the manufacture of this wool is costing tenpence to one shilling, per pound more than natural wool, but when the production methods are brought to the highest efficiency, it is hoped that the cost will be one shilling per lb below that of the natural product, while the production will be steady all the year round. Vegetable fibre, similar to; that used in paper-making, is the basi£ of the synthetic wool. It is first treated with a bisulphite, and then is thrown into a soda bath. As it leaves the soda bath, the fibre has the appearance of torn natural wool, but it is allowed to remain for some time before undergoing a secret process and treatment with sulphur carbon, which produces a cellulose agglomeration. The product from the final bath is a perfect resemblance of natural crude wool. It can' be spun into a eonti"uous thread and can be cut and carded like wool, and woven into cloth in exactly the same way. Apart from the two factories mentioned, other companies are being formed to exploit the new processes.