POSIDONIA FIBRE. - 
i 
material for cloth making, producing coarse and weak fabrics, and also 
for mixing with wool in the preparation of lower-grade blankets. Just 
‘prior to the war Germany had been using about 8,000 tons a year. 
The physical properties of the ultimate filament are described, and 
all the details are particularly relevant in deciding whether the individu- 
ality of the fibre fits it for any specific purpose. ‘The results here agree 
‘with the chemical characteristics in proving that the fibre ‘is more suit- 
able for paper-making than for any other purpose. In resistance to 
chemical and bacterial influences, and in the amount of extension under 
strain, it shows superiority to several of the usual textile fibres; but in 
most other respects it shows great inferiority, e.g., shortness, coarseness, 
and irregularity of staple; complex structure of filament, unsuitable 
dimensions, and chemical character of the ultimate fibres. 
Of the characteristics under review it 1s_conceivable that by appro- 
priate artificial treatment, the physical properties might be improved — 
within limits. With this‘end in view, Inany experiments were carried 
out, of which details are supplied, to produce a fibre suitable for textile 
purposes. A marked degree of success has been attained. The main 
physical defect of the crude commercial fibre is its brittleness, though the 
tensile strength is also somewhat low. It seems possible, from the 
experimental results so far, to bring about an increase of about 25 per. 
cent. in the tensile strength. ; 
The elasticity has been much increased by artificial treatment, and 
simple methods of treatment have been discovered whereby a remarkable 
degree of flexibility may be imparted to the fibre, enabling the filament to 
be knotted repeatedly with ease. 
A Bibliography of 66 references is added. 
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