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New carrots for fur
132
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. I;. I.
New Carrots for Fur.-(lnd. Eng. Chem., New Edition, IO, 97.) In the process of felting fur it is necessary first to treat the material with some chemical that will alter its character and make such felting possible. Mercury in nitric acid has traditionally been used for this purpose since the seventeenth century. It was thought such treatment promoted felting by causing the overlapping scales, which compose the surface of the fiber, to stand out and the interlocking of these “barbs” was responsible for the close massing of the fur. The use of mercury is objectionable because of its health hazards while the elimination of the nitric acid would permit a better color, particularly with light fur. With the object of replacing these two chemicals by others less objectionable and equally as good, a series of researches were carried out at the Mellon Institute. The problem was successfully solved, at the same time proving wrong contemporary theories regarding carroting action. In the course of the investigation it was noticed that dry fur would not felt, but occurred if the carroted fur were kneaded in hot water. The blocking and stretching of formed felt are likewise carried on in the presence of steam. It was therefore determined that the felting quality of fur depended upon its ability to imbibe water, that the property of imbibition was conferred by the carrot, and that fur so wetted became pliant or plastic when heated and relatively rigid on cooling, a behavior analogous to that of gelatin. The barb theory of felting thus gives place to the gelatin theory, the pliant, wet fibers being forced into an interlacing felt, the body of which is maintained by the friction of the fibers, as in any textile fabric. T. K. C. Natural Nitrate Deposits in U. S.-Without a doubt, a supply of nitrogen in the form of nitrates is indispensible for our well-being in the present civilized state. Nitrates form an important constituent of fertilizers and nitric acid (nitrate of hydrogen) will transform many an innocuous substance into a powerful explosive. Therefore, it should be of interest that the Geological Survey, after 20 years of search and examination of prospects, has stated that the United States might as well give up the idea of producing commercial nitrate from deposits found within its borders and must depend on by-product or synthetic sources of nitrogen or upon imported The report gives general information on nitrates and nitrates. discusses deposits by counties in 23 states distributed throughout the country. Apparently, of the many nitrate deposits already known in this country not one contains enough nitrate to afford promise of commercial development under any prospective condi-
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. I;. I.
New Carrots for Fur.-(lnd. Eng. Chem., New Edition, IO, 97.) In the process of felting fur it is necessary first to treat the material with some chemical that will alter its character and make such felting possible. Mercury in nitric acid has traditionally been used for this purpose since the seventeenth century. It was thought such treatment promoted felting by causing the overlapping scales, which compose the surface of the fiber, to stand out and the interlocking of these “barbs” was responsible for the close massing of the fur. The use of mercury is objectionable because of its health hazards while the elimination of the nitric acid would permit a better color, particularly with light fur. With the object of replacing these two chemicals by others less objectionable and equally as good, a series of researches were carried out at the Mellon Institute. The problem was successfully solved, at the same time proving wrong contemporary theories regarding carroting action. In the course of the investigation it was noticed that dry fur would not felt, but occurred if the carroted fur were kneaded in hot water. The blocking and stretching of formed felt are likewise carried on in the presence of steam. It was therefore determined that the felting quality of fur depended upon its ability to imbibe water, that the property of imbibition was conferred by the carrot, and that fur so wetted became pliant or plastic when heated and relatively rigid on cooling, a behavior analogous to that of gelatin. The barb theory of felting thus gives place to the gelatin theory, the pliant, wet fibers being forced into an interlacing felt, the body of which is maintained by the friction of the fibers, as in any textile fabric. T. K. C. Natural Nitrate Deposits in U. S.-Without a doubt, a supply of nitrogen in the form of nitrates is indispensible for our well-being in the present civilized state. Nitrates form an important constituent of fertilizers and nitric acid (nitrate of hydrogen) will transform many an innocuous substance into a powerful explosive. Therefore, it should be of interest that the Geological Survey, after 20 years of search and examination of prospects, has stated that the United States might as well give up the idea of producing commercial nitrate from deposits found within its borders and must depend on by-product or synthetic sources of nitrogen or upon imported The report gives general information on nitrates and nitrates. discusses deposits by counties in 23 states distributed throughout the country. Apparently, of the many nitrate deposits already known in this country not one contains enough nitrate to afford promise of commercial development under any prospective condi-