NEW USE FOR FLAX

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1932, Page 8

NEW USE FOR FLAX

CELLULOSE EXTRACTION. FOR ARTFICIAL SILK. • WELLINGTON March*' 12. A demonstraton of the actual, manufacture of artificial silk yarns and cellulose hydrate sheets ffcrtrU New Zealand flax (phoimium tena-x))', was given in the Dominion Laboratory yesterday by Dr J. W- Brown, a scientist from Australia, who is visiting New Zealand. , The gathering which witnessed the demonstration included ; the lion. R• .Masters, Minister in Charge of the Department of Industries and Commerce ; Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, Mr W. J. Boadfoot, M.P., DrE. Marsden, , lir B. B. Wood, Mr G. W. Clinkard, Mr F. W. Vickerman, Mr J. G. Lancaster, Mr Norman Gibbons/ and Mr ]{. L. Andrews assistant chemist at tiie Dominion Laboratory. The three distinct stages of processing were fully explained and demonstrated by Dr Brown. These are the extractions of the cellulose from the flax leaves, the preparation of the colloidal cellulose solution, and the precipitation of the cellulose from the solution in the form of filament artificial silk yarns and transparent cellulose hydrate sheets- Of particular interest was a demonstration of Dr Brown’s process for the after treatment, of cellulose hydrate sheets to render them suitable for the wrapping of butter for export. This serves as a preventive from associated substances. T

The demonstrator explained that phormium tenax was an eminently suitable form of plant life' for rawmaterial for the production of artificial silk yarns and cellulose hydrate sheets. The finished products were inspected, and it was pointed out that they compared favourably with similar goods produced in Great Britain and in the, United States from white spruce.

The mechanical processes were explained by Mr A. Tv. Wilson, chief engineer of the Australian • company which has been formed to exploit Dr Brown’s inventions.