Sample of Aralac (casein) fiber, ca. 1942
date: label: Date made
content: late 1930s-1942
name: label: maker
content: Atlantic Research Associates
notes: label: Description
content: Large sample of Aralac, a fiber made from the casein in milk. Large sample of slightly yellow fiber. Casein, or milk protein, as the basis for an extruded fiber, was explored first by the Italians (Lanital) in the 1930s, and later by the Americans as a substitute fiber for wool, especially during wool shortages in wartime. However, in Europe, during World War II, milk proved more important as a food source than for fiber production. This sample from Atlantic Research Associates (ARA) hence the name Aralac.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Atlantic Research Associates
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1998.0026.1
label: accession number
content: 1998.0026
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Fiber sample
label: Object Name
content: fiber sample, Aralac
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: casein (milk protein) (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 12 in x 12 in; 30.48 cm x 30.48 cm