Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-18
Success Near in Search
For WrinkIeIess Cotton
U. S. Chemists Also Report
Promise Of Fireproofinq
By Themes R. Henry

BY Thomos K. Henry
Wrinkleless and fireproof cotton Is
being approached by Department Of
Agriculture chemists.
More than 2 million bales, according
to department statistics. now are used
in clothing and household fabrics in
which crease resistance is highly de-
sirable. Although there have been
several commercial methods to achieve
this, all have fallen quite short of the
finished cotton cloth with various
resins.
The trouble, it has been determined
at the departments Southern research
laboratory, lies in the difficulties in
getting these embarrassing resins
into the fiber. Because Of its structure,
untreated cotton resists penetration by
anything.
A great improvement can be brought
about by first altering the chemistry Of
the cotton fiber itself. This can be
accomplished by first impregnating it
with certain low-coSt acids. These alter
the structure of the cellulose molecule.
Of which the cotton fiber is chiefly com.
posed, to enable the resins to pene-
Crate the nperS easily.
Product Unchanged.
The resulting product, according to
the report, has better wearing resist
ance but its appearance and "feel" are
unchanged Production costs are quite
moderate and the department has
taken out public service patent on
the process.
rTNNr,n khA -
Chemistry report says, which make
cotton fabric essentially flreproof have
been found in research carried out in
cooperation with the Army. Cotton
treated with either compound, accord
ing to the report, withStands repeated
launderings without losing its fire.
proof qualities.
Both can be applied by soaking the
cotton cloth in water and the fabric is
not weakened, made stiff, uncomfort-
able to wear or harmful to the skin.
All the fireproofing methods devel-
oped in the past. it is pointed out, have
been Objectionable for one or another
of these effects.
The chemists also have developed q
semi-elastic cotton fiber from which can
be made gauze for bandages of superior
clinging power. These now are being
tested at Army hospitals in Korea.
COrtisone Study Progresses.
Search for plants containing pre-
cursors of cortisone, carried on by
Department of Agriculture botanical
explorers all over the accessible world
for the past three years, is narrowing
to three types-the agave, the yam and
the yucca, all found in the South
western deserts.
Out of more than 2,70O plant
samples tested, according to Bureau of
Chemistry scientists, only various
species of these three have increased
appreciate amounts Of hesogenin and
diosgenin, the chemical substances
upon which an easy synthesis of the
life-saving adrenal gland hormone
might be built up.
It now is obvious, they say, that
these molecules are extremely rare in
nature. But they also vary enormously
from species to species Of the plants
in which they normally are found.
Best sources of hesogenin are the
leaves of various species Of agave.
especially IS species found in Lower
California and probably more scantily
dispersed over most of northern
Mexico. The most promising now are
being grown experimentally at Pasa-
dena, to determine if they can be made
the basis of commercial crops.
The best source of the equally
important diosgenin are the roots OF
the Mexican yam, and only those
from the province of Vera Cruz have
shown much real promise. These
species are being propagated in the
Department Of Agriculture expert.
mental gardens at Beltsville. Md.
May Aid Sex Hormone Use.
Yucca leaves contain less promising
amounts but from one species was OBJ
tanned promising amounts Of another
closely related material whose applica-
ton to cortisone Is somewhat question:
able but which is expected to be Of con-
siderable value in the synthesis Of sex
hormones.
Meanwhile the Agriculture Depart
ment chemists are carrying out in
tensive studies of the materials
themselves and have developed new
methods for their publication.
More than 1000 samples from all
over the world Of plants belonging to
other than these three families have
been analysed with almost completely
negative results. according to the
report. 1t is planned. however. to con-
tinue the search as long as any pos.
sibility of finding some rich source
remains.