BLEACHING THE FIBRE.

Shannon News, 4 December 1928, Page 3

BLEACHING THE FIBRE.

MR (THWAITES’S PROCESS.

FROM GREEN LEAF TO FIBRE IN 24 HOURS.

An interesting process of bleaching fibre, which was considered by the president of the N.Z. Flax-millers’ Assoc ~ iation, as a bright spot in the present depression' in the trade, was explained to an executive meeting of the Association held in Foxton on Wednes-, day by Mr T. C. Thwaites, of Shannon (says the Herald). There were present at the meeting the president (Mr C. H. Speirs), and Messrs W. Speirs, A. A. Brown, V. Nye, W. Ross Jnr., and Mr D. R. Ogilvy. -Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. S. Moir a til A. Fraser. ' .

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. A great deal of interest was evinced in the samples by those present and various tests applied to the textures whichj in all easeq, withstood the teats 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 lie was on the right track adverse circumstances prevented him from continuing in his research work. He had n-ev-er received much encouragement in his work and. as a fire destroyed his premises, 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 take fibie direct from the stripper, after receiving a wash, and within twentyfour hours produce the article submitted to the meeting that day. It was possible, by his process, to bleach the fibre direct from the istripper 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. Mr Thwaites submitted three mountings of six samples each showing samples of the same • hank evenly divided into 18 parts. The fir3t 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-sub-mersion 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 lie had nut 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 te3ts 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 taker, from the "Whitsun ai' 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. Diying 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 ex-perimenting-.to find out when the fibre was properly dry. This could be ascertained by weighing the fibre. Tho weight of fibre when dry was easily ascertained and this matter was readily overcome. ‘With regard to “tails” in the hanks. Mr Thwaites said that these ■scutched, or snapped off when in the scutcher. Under the existing conditions of treating the fibpe, it was customary to trim the “tails” prior to ■scutching and this could .easily be carried out with his process if desire i. Under his process the fibre scutched up well within 24 ■ hours. After carefully examining the tow and hemp samples submitted, the mill-

ers were unanimous in their praise of Mr Thwaites’ process. Mr Brown (Waikanae) said the process slcmed to him- to be a good proposition—it fact the samples were as good as he had seen. The president (Mr C. H. ISpeirs) said' he had never seen better samples.

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 thiid 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 end put away for three months, and at the end of that period submit 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 fibre 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 greerr leaf at midday one day he could produce fibre ready for scutching by midday the next day. . Millers considered .that it would not be a difficult matter tr handle largo quantities as suitable baths could he arranged. .The President said the matter of the bath wa3 a minor Hem. The main thing was to get down to the cost to the miller of bleaching the fibre under the' now process. The millers could easily put in apparatus to deal wirii the fibre as they thought fit. He was verv interested in the process and it. was decidedly encouraging. Mr Thwaites was to he 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 mtotion of the President and Mr A. A. Brown, Mr Thwaites was accorded a heayty vote of thanks for attending the meeting and explaining his process.