Abstract
THE Linen Research Association, which is at Lambeg, Co. Antrim, has recently issued its annual report for the year ended September 30, 1948. The report records the opening of the new buildings in june the installation of plant and equipment in new technical shed for bleaching, dyeing and finishing is now almost complete. Delivery of machinery for the weaving section has also begun ; but difficulties in recruiting well-qualified scientific staff have continued, although the accommodation for the increased staff planned in 1945 is now available. In view of the fall in home flax production, it is considered essential to continue research on flax production and to make another serious attempt to increase the yield of flax obtained from scutching. The total number of members is now 280, and the report includes lists of both members and staff and of the membership of committees. Research work carried out during the year has included a continued study of the effect of varying the retting process on the yield and quality of fibre produced from different types of straw, and also a study of the prevention of deterioration of the retted straw during drying. An investigation on a standard turbine scutchingmachine has shown that low humidity has little effect on yield provided the straw contains about 14 per cent of moisture, but it greatly reduces the yield if the straw is dry ; while at 85–90 per cent relative humidity in the turbine, dry straw can be scutched with a yield only slightly lower than that with properly conditioned straw. The investigation for the Ministry of Supply on the relation between fibre properties and yarn quality has been completed, and an investigation of 'dropped ends' has been started to determine the factors which limit the rate of production and the efficiency of spinning frames. Weaving tests have continued on a variety of yarns in automatic looms of the shuttle-change and pinchange types. Work on cloth bleaching has aimed at modifying existing processes to whiten fabrics with no degradation of the cellulose, and to secure the maximum durability ; while work on dyeing has led to an improved method of securing penetration of vat dyes in linen fabrics.
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Linen Research Association : Report for 1948. Nature 163, 632 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163632a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/163632a0