cesses for making artificial silk tops, starting with Waste, Fibro of six inches, and Fibro of four inches in length

Waste is first garnetted, then carded, gilled several times, combed, and regillcd to make the requisite ball. This givcs 20% noil. Fibro of 6 in. length is not carded, but prepared, to give sliver, then gilled, combed and formed into top. This gives 4-5% noil. Fibro of 4 in. length is carded, gilled, combed, and regilled to form top.

Yarns made wholly from artificial silk are said to spin easily and even more simply than similar yarns from wool.

A new feature of this trade is the preparation of dyed tops. The artificial silk is first made into tops, then dyed in fast shades and after- wards recombed.

Dyed tops of this character are afterwards blended with undyed wool to form composite tops, which give mixture yarns. By the intro- duction of either one or two of these mixed yarns as warp or weft, or both, and subse- quently cross dyeing in the piece, some excellent materials can be obtained, which are used for men’s suitings. Similar results cannot be obtained by using cotton, for the artificial silk imparts brightness and handle to the pieces.

Artificial Silk in Conjunction with Linen- Artificial silk is being used with the linen fibre in two ways, (1) it is employed as a separate continuous thread for weft in tapestries, and (2) cut fibre, e.g., Fibro, in combination with linen in sliver form, is used for the production of composite yarns. The latter are then used for warp and weft in dress fabrics.

Artificial Silk and Silk--In association with silk, artificial silk may also be used; for the combination of both gives rise to improved fabrics and ornamental effects The lustre of the artificial silk, combined with the softness and drapingqualities of the silk, render possible the production of fabrics unattainable in any other way. Moreover, many beautiful cross-dyed effects can be obtained by dyeing in the piece.

Plush fabrics with a silk grorgette ground and artificial silk pile are produced in two ways The material is first woven with a solid pile structure on the silk ground. By printing on a pattern with some carbonising paste, the viscose silk may be dcstroyed, leaving the un- treated portion of the pile and the silk intact. Another method is to produce the pile on the double plush principle, i e , two pieces are woven together in the same loom, the pile warp being severed by a cutting knife during weaving, thus septrating the upper and lower pieces It should be stated that the pieces are desummed

This gives 6 5 % noil.

~

It is of interest to cxamine the various pro- --

High twist diminishes the strength of the yarn and consequently it cannot be employed to ths same advantage as silk in cr6pe-de-chines, georgettes &o.

During the last year or so, the combination of artificial silk with silk in hosiery has become prominent, but usually the percentage of silk is small. Stockings consisting of the plaited variety are degummed and dyed together in a soap bath with neutral dyeing acid and salt colours.

The lecture was illustrated by samples of the various types of silk as self yarns and twisted or mixed with other fibres.

Among these may be mentioned cellulose nitrate artificial silks from Messrs. Tubize and from The Bulmerayon Co., cuprammonium artificial silks from Brysilka Ltd. and Bemberg, viscose artificial silks of Courtaulds (including the newer yarns of this company, e.g. Escorto, Courto, Tudenza, Dulesco, Delustra), Harben Ltd., Bulmerayon Co , Messrs. Celta artificial silks, cellulose acetate silks of Th? British Celanese Ltd.. Coutaulds, French and American companies.

Yarns made from Vistra, Fibro, and other staple fibres, were shown together with mixed yarns containing them.

Among the exhibits were also knitted and woven materials containing the various artificial silks, hosiery, elastic ware, plushes, prints, and pile fabrics.

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COMMUNICATION Stability of Titanium Sulphate Solutions

H. WILKINSON, A.I.C., and A. G. TYLER, B Sc. The method of storing titanium sulphate

.;elutions recently described (this Jour., 1927, 43, 114), has since been slightly modified by connecting absorption tubes containing an slkaline solution of pyrogallol to the neck of the stock bottle. In this way any air entering the latter is washed free from oxygen and a con- 3iderable improvement in stability is obtained. A solution kept in this manner gave the following results- Interval after praparation Titration Value

of Stock Solution per cent. Zero time ... ... 100

3 days ... ... ... 90.5 14 days ... ... ... 97.8

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The addition of a W shaped tube to the iurette suggested by Jones (this Jour., 1927, L3, 161) is of less importance as the difficulty is lot with the small surface of liquid in the mrette, but with the large surface in the stock Iottle when the solution is stored in bulk.

The stability now obtained is such as to :xtend the utility of this process to accurate Lnalytical work, which was not claimed in our

in the piece, and usually dyed in twi-colour effects, keeping the viscose silk lighter than the

- I t is of importance to remember that artificial 1 silk cannot be twisted to such an extent as silk.

Dyeing Department, Technical College, Huddersfield.