A chemical compound which is claimed to render. textile materials permanently "water-repellent" has been perfected by the Dyestuffs Group of Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, and its properties were demonstrate? at Dorland House, Regent Street, W., recently states "The Times,"
The new substance, which has been named "Velan," is stated to differ from existing waterproofing media in that it does not merely close the interstices of the cloth or coat the fibres, but combines with the material to create new compounds. It imparts to such fabrics as cotton, silk, wool, linen, and artificial silk a soft and supple quality which, it is claimed, will survive repeated washing, lundering,.and dry cleaning. Mom such closely woven cloth, treated with Velan, water will roll off immediately. In the case of open textures or hairy cloth the water may be caught in the mesh or pile but can be shaken out. None of the water is absorbed by the fibres.
At a recent demonstration manner quins, dressed from head to foot in "Velanised" clothes, stood beneath artificially created showers of almost tropical density ana emerged with their flimsy silks and laces completely dry. They spilt cups of tea and glasses of lemonade on each others dresses, and the liquids merely rolled off, leaving no mark or stain, The same thing happened when they upset their drinks over the table-cloth or the fabric of chairs and settees, Even an overturned bottle of ink had no power to harm a piece of "Velanised" drapery Immersed in Water athing costumes treated with n will dry, it is claimed. four times more quickly than those not so treated. The same applies to other articles which are frequently immersed in water, such as ships' ropes and sail-cloth, The substance has been found to be as completely s factory in water-proofing heavy woollen fabrics used for military uniforms as in rendering silk stock-
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