SYNTHETIC FIBERS "DISCOVERED"

Abstract

V>HEMISTRY in the age-old textile industry may be considered a relatively new force since extensive progress has been made only in the last 30 or 40 years. A major portion of this progress must be credited to the efforts of the chemical industry as evidenced by the fact that the rayons as well as the newer synthetic fibers and most of the chemical finishes are products of the chemical industry's laboratories. However in spite of this close relationship, the full impact and potential of textiles in the chemical industry are just being recognized for the first time in many quarters. It is now well known that nearly every major chemical company is either actively working in the fields of synthetic fibers and textile chemicals or contemplating entering these fields. In general the direction of chemical research and development in the textile fields has not appeared to deviate much from that of recent years and continues ...