CASEIN WOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1938, Page 5

CASEIN WOOL

AMAZING CHEMICAL PROCESS.

DEVELOPMENTS IN ITALY. In Milan, Italy, 32 quarts of milk, equal one “woollen” sweater, one “woollen” bathing suit, considerable table butter and enough whey to feed a pig for one day. Indications are that the making of woollen fibre from the casein of cows’ milk has progressed far from the laboratory stage with the Snia Viscosa concern, one of the world’s largest rayon producers, prepared to go into mass production. During the next few months, 10 tons of artificial wool a day is to be the goal of the factory whose amazing chemical process duplicates by machinery what a lamb would accomplish digesting its mother’s milk to produce wool on its back. The process merely eliminates the necessity of an animal “go-between.” According to the latest word, the new cloth made from casein wool comes in all colours and patterns, and is much cheaper than cloth made from genuine wool and does not shrink with laundering. Because it is an excellent non-con-ductor of heat it makes grand overcoats, business suits and men’s and women’s sportswear. Thousands of Italians are already wearing clothing made of the fibre and summer fashion models are showing the very latest styles in the new material. Under the microscope, the fibre is seen to lack the tiny multitudinous “hocks” possessed by ordinary wool, all of which means it can be worn next to the skin without discomfort. Casein, well known as an essential constituent of cheese, also useful in certain types of modern paint, etc., is the ingredient of milk from which the ‘wool comes. Butter is a by-product of separating the milk from the butterfat, and likewise whey. Whey has its acidity neutralised and is fed to pigs. Wool is a raw material for which Italy depends almost entirely upon other countries. Like the “Ersatz” materials made by Germany during the World War, so casein wool was used as a substitute during Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia when sanctions were applied. It must be considered, however, that any tremendous increase in the production of wool from milk necessarily means a reduction in Italy’s export of cheese. Indications now point to the opening soon of an artificial wool factory in the United States through the American representatives of Snia Viscosa.