Show Sponges From Wood Are Discover Discovery of French I Inventors Vol WASHINGTON Sponges Sponges from wood created from the same base out out- of which artificial artificial artificial arti arti- silk is made arc are described in a patent granted here to L. L P. P G. G and R. R Fays French inventors In preparing their sponges the I Inventors steep wood pulp in strong caustic soda then treat it with the chemical carbon disulphide The resulting mass is now dissolved dissolved dissolved dis dis- dis- dis solved in caustic soda forming a thick molasses molasses like like syrup called viscose It is from viscose that most rayon Is made today Going Nature One Better Not concerned with r rayon yon but with making artificial sponges the inventors mix the viscose with a pore forming material This may maybe maybe maybe be sugar paraffin fat or preferably preferably preferably prefer prefer- ably a crystallized salt called sodium sodium sodium so so- sulfate The resulting resulting resulting re re- paste is cast in blocks inthe in inthe inthe the shape of ot sponges The blocks are placed in molds and sprinkled with the crystals of the pore form ing salt This sprinkling is a very important important important tant part of the invention since it makes for better porosity After being s so covered the blocks of viscose in their molds are next placed in a chamber into which steam or hot air nir is admitted This coagulates the viscose mass and melts the pore forming salt leaving leavin myriads of pores |