Milk fiber
{{Short description|Type of Azlon, a regenerated protein fiber based on the casein protein found in milk}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
Milk fiber or milk wool is a type of Azlon, a regenerated protein fiber based on the casein protein found in milk. There are several trade names for milk-casein-based fibers, including Lanital, Fibrolane and Aralac.
File:Milano, Torre Snia Viscosa 01 (mono crop).jpg was the first producer of milk fiber.]]
Invention and history
First produced and patented in Italy in 1935 by Antonio Ferretti{{Cite journal|date=1 December 1937 |title=Artificial Wool Production in Italy|journal=Nature |volume=140|issue=3556|pages=1090|doi=10.1038/1401090a0|issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free}} and sold under the name Lanital, milk fiber was created under an Italian national self-sufficiency drive and was intended to capitalize on previous successes with rayon.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/lanital-milk-dress-qmilch|title=How Clothing Made From Milk Became the Height of Fascist Fashion|last=Waters|first=Michael|date=28 July 2017 |website=Atlas Obscura |access-date=27 November 2019}} Milk fibers enjoyed a brief period of success in the 1930s and 1940s. The popularity of milk fibers declined rapidly once full-synthetic fibers were developed. Fully synthetic fibers, such as acrylic, were able to significantly undercut milk fiber on price while being more durable.{{Cite web|url=https://cordis.europa.eu/article/rcn/135536/en|title=Making clothes from milk |date=2 August 2017}} During the 2010s several producers tried to reintroduce milk fibers to commercial production.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
Production process
The production process of milk fiber was of some public interest and was documented on film by several contemporary sources.{{Citation|title=Making Wool From Milk (1937)| date=13 April 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyLnKz7uNMQ |access-date=27 November 2019}} A simplified overview of the process is as follows:{{Cite web|url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/sova-nmah-ac-1119|title=H. Irving Crane Papers|website=National Museum of American History |access-date=27 November 2019}}
- Acid is mixed with milk to extract the casein.
- Water is evaporated to form casein crystals.
- The casein is hydrated to a thick syrup and extruded through spinnerets.
- The resulting fiber is passed through a hardening bath.
- The continuous fiber is then cut to the desired length.