As early as 1937 soybean fiber was showing promise of usefulness in
the textile field. It was the first textile filament to be spun from the
protein of vegetable origin. Soybean is exceptionally rich in protein,
nearly 50% is protein.
Initially the fiber was manufactured by crushing beans under pressure and extracting oil. The protein in turn was extracted by passing the meal through a saline solution; it was then combined with various chemicals to form a liquid about as thick as molasses to be used in a spinning solution. This was forced through a spinneret containing as many as 500 holes and the filaments were then hardened in an acid bath.
Early soybean fiber research was a problem for scientists who were unable to produce firm, tough protein filaments which would resist wear and deterioration. This was due to a molecular arrangement very different from the structure of natural fibers.
The fiber was white to light tan color and had the appearance and texture similar to wool and silk, was warm and soft to the feel, had natural crimp and a high degree of resiliency. It did not absorb moisture as easily as wool or casein and thus didn't mold as readily as casein fiber. Because its chemical properties were similar to wool it could be dyed the same as wool.
It blended well with wool, rayon and cotton and was woven and knitted into goods by the usual textile methods. Ford Motor company experimented with it for car seats in the early 1940s which proved to be quite satisfactory. Fiber was used also for suitings and other upholstery fabrics but there was never any major production.
Initially the fiber was manufactured by crushing beans under pressure and extracting oil. The protein in turn was extracted by passing the meal through a saline solution; it was then combined with various chemicals to form a liquid about as thick as molasses to be used in a spinning solution. This was forced through a spinneret containing as many as 500 holes and the filaments were then hardened in an acid bath.
Early soybean fiber research was a problem for scientists who were unable to produce firm, tough protein filaments which would resist wear and deterioration. This was due to a molecular arrangement very different from the structure of natural fibers.
The fiber was white to light tan color and had the appearance and texture similar to wool and silk, was warm and soft to the feel, had natural crimp and a high degree of resiliency. It did not absorb moisture as easily as wool or casein and thus didn't mold as readily as casein fiber. Because its chemical properties were similar to wool it could be dyed the same as wool.
It blended well with wool, rayon and cotton and was woven and knitted into goods by the usual textile methods. Ford Motor company experimented with it for car seats in the early 1940s which proved to be quite satisfactory. Fiber was used also for suitings and other upholstery fabrics but there was never any major production.