STRONGER YARNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 6

STRONGER YARNS

RUBBERISED WOOL OFFERS MANY POSSIBILITIES. Dr C. M. Blow, of the Wool Industries Research Association, Leeds, has recently recorded the results of experiments in the rubberising of yarns carried out over the last two years. By suitable chemical treatment it has been found possible to deposit an extremely fine layer of rubber on the surface of wool fibres when treated in yarn form. This is not designed to waterproof the yarn or to confer water repellancy on a fabric, as is frequently Assumed from the term rubberising. The method confers certain additional properties such as greater strength and durability on the yarn without appreciably altering handle ar the wool-like quality of the yarn. It offers, moreover, the possibility' of producing yarns al considerably lower twist to be employed, with consequent increase in fullness. Striking improvements have been demonstrated in the weaving properties of knitted garments made from rubberised yarns together with prolonged retention of the original surface characters of the fabric. The method is applicable also to carpets and abrasion tests of a pile fabric have shown how the tendency for loose fibres to be shed is greatly decreased, the fibres wearing evenly' from the surface. A Scottish manufacturer has found that the use of rubberised yarn in the making of high quality coating material is of great value in preserving the surface character of the fabric for greatly extended periods. Experiments are now in progress to de.ermine additional applications of the new method to dress and novelty fabrics, beach wear and furnishing.