NEW BLEACHING PROCESS FOR FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3877, 29 November 1928, Page 3

NEW BLEACHING PROCESS FOR FLAX INDUSTRY.

CLAIM BY SHANNON CHEMIST. An interesting 1 process of bleaching fibre, which was considered by the president of the N.Z. Flaxmillers’ Association as a bright spot in the present depression in the trade, was explained to an executive meeting of the Association held locally yesterday by Mr. T. C. 'Thwaites, of Shannon. There were present at the meeting the president (Mr. C. H. Speirs), and Messrs W. Speirs, A. A. Brown, W. Nye, H. Berry, E. Sutton, Geo. Rough, W. Ross Jnr., and Mi 1 . D. R. Ogilvy. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. S. Moir and A. Eraser.

Mr Thwaites, who is a chemist in business in Shannon, placed before the members several very fine hanks of tow and hemp bleached by his chemical process. At great deal of interest was evinced in the samples by those present and various tests applied to the textures which, in all cases, withstood the tests admirably. In explanation of his process, Mr. Thwaites said that some years ago he had spent a considerable time in experimenting in bleaching methods and just when he was feeling that he was on the right track adverse circumstances prevented him from continuing in his research work. He had never received much encouragement in his work and as a fire destroyed his premises and he had given up his work. About three months ago, however, he had again taken on the research work where he had left off and to-day was able to ta)ke fibre direct from the stripper, after receiving a wash, and within twenty four hours produce the article submitted to the meeting that day. It was possible, by his process, to bleach the fibre direct from the stripper without a wash, but this Mr Thwaites did not consider would justify itself as it would take more out of the bath and be more costly. The time the hemp required to remain in the bath was a matter for experiment. Mir. Thwaites submitted three mountings of six samples each showing samples of the same hank evenly divided into 18 parts. The first card showed the result of hemp taken after a wash and placed in a full strength bath at from a half hour to three hours, half an hour’s extra-submersion being given each of the six samples on the card. The second card showed the result of six samples immersed in a half strength bath over a similar space of time and the third was the result of a quarter strength bath. Mr. Thwaites said he had not had the facilities to treat large quantities but he was now installing the necessary equipment and within about two weeks he would make more definite tests and be able to give the millers the cost per ton of bleaching under his process. Apart from the mounted samples, Mr. Thwaites submitted samples of hemp and tow taken from the Whitaunui and Miranui mills and treated by his chemical process. The colour of these hanks very much approached that -of .Sisal. These hanks had been treated within three hours, except for drying. Drying the fibre under his process it did not necessitate “paddocking.” It was very important, however, that the fibre should be thoroughly dried before baling and in this connection Mr Thwaites had been experimenting to find out when the fibre was properly dry. This could be ascertained by weighing the fibre. The weight of fibre when drv was easily ascertained and this matter was readily overcome. With regard to “tails” in the hanks, Mr. Thaites said that these scutched, or snapped off when in the scutcher. Under the existing conditions of treating the fibre, it was customary to trim the “tails” prior to scutching and this could easily be carried out with his process if desired. Under his process the fibre scutched rip well within 24 hours. After carefully examining the tow and hemp samples submitted, the millers were unanimous in their 'praise of Mr. Thwaites’ process. Mr. Brown (Waikanae) said the process seemed to him to be a good proposition —in fact the samples were as good as he had seen. The president (Mr. C. H- Speirs) said he had never seen better samv pies. Mr. Ogilvy (Foxton) considered the samples on a par with Sisal. Referring to his tow sample, Mr. Thwaites said he had taken it from an ordinary third grade tow hank and he thought the article as finished by him would grade Ist grade. Mr. Brown: It’s better than our existing Ist grade. Mr Thwaites said he intended to treat a bale of fibre, have it scutched and put away for three months and at the end of that period submitted to the Association for inspection. Mr. Brown: What you have already shown us is very good. Mr Thwaites pointed out that it had been said of chemical processes that in a few months the fibre deteriorated. Personally he was convinced that there was absolutely no chemical left in the fibre treated by his process. By his process the fibre was taken from the stripper after one wash, treated in a chemical bath, washed again and dried. The fipre could be dried in drying rooms with electric fans or by some such process. Personally, in experimenting, he had taken his hanks of an evening and thrown them over a clothes line in the yard. They were practically dry by morning. From green leaf &t Bwjdftjr one day

he could produce fibre ready, for scutching by midday the next day.

Millers considered that it would not be a difficult matter to handlo large quantities as suitable baths could be arranged. The President said -the matter of the bath was a minor item. The main thing was to get down to the cost to the miller of bleaching the fibre under the new process. The millers could easily put in apparatus to deal with the fibre as they thought fit. He was very interested in the process and it was decidedly encouraging. Mr. Thwaites was to be highly congratulated on his research work and they all hoped that success would attend his efforts. They were now looking 'forward to hearing the result of his further experiments in the near future.

On the motion of the President and Mr. A. A. Brown, Mr. Thmaites was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for attending the meeting and explaining his process.