British Rayon Research Association
Encyclopedia
The British Rayon Research Association was a research institute formed in 1946 by the British Rayon Federation and others. It was funded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and by voluntary funds from industry to investigate the chemical and physical properties of rayon
and rayon fabrics, using a wide range of laboratory and theoretical methods. John Wilson
, who was its Director from 1948 to 1958 was appointed a CBE
for his work at the BRRA. It was located near Ringway Airport in Manchester
, initially, and then at Heald Green
near Manchester
after 1955.
Work from the Association included academic publication, that included papers by Leslie Treloar
in the journal Polymer. The BRRA sponsored Andrew Donald Booth
's early research into computing at Birkbeck
and was home to the first of his All Purpose Electronic Computer
s built in 1952
Under Wilson's leadership, the staff of BRRA grew to nearly 300 and gained an international reputation in textiles research. The BRRA also offered annual Technological Scholarships in the Departments of Textiles at the University of Manchester and the University of Leeds.
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh opened the new BRRA laboratory at Heald Green on May 11, 1955. It cost £500,000. British Pathé filmed footage of research, at BRRA, on the strength of fabrics.
John Wilson was succeeded by Leonard Albert Wiseman
in 1958.
. In 1957 an official agreement was made to avoid duplication.
Wilson retired from the BRRA in 1958, and Len Wiseman became Director.
Consensus emerged that a merger between the BCIRA and BRRA was needed. BRRA's life ended with its merger with the BCRA to form the Cotton, Silk, and Man-Made Fibres Research Association in 1961, better known as the Shirley Institute
. Len Wiseman was appointed its Deputy Director.
Rayon
Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic or artificial fiber. Rayon is known by the names viscose rayon and art silk in the textile industry...
and rayon fabrics, using a wide range of laboratory and theoretical methods. John Wilson
John Wilson (industrial chemist)
John Wilson CBE, MC & Bar, FRIC was Director of the British Rayon Research Association from 1948 to 1958. He was married to Edith Wilson and had six children.-Early life:...
, who was its Director from 1948 to 1958 was appointed a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his work at the BRRA. It was located near Ringway Airport in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, initially, and then at Heald Green
Heald Green
Heald Green is a suburb of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. It is situated in the south-west of the borough and is bordered by Gatley and Cheadle to the north, Cheadle Hulme to the east, Handforth and Styal to the south and Wythenshawe to the west...
near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
after 1955.
Work from the Association included academic publication, that included papers by Leslie Treloar
LRG Treloar
Professor L. R. G. Treloar, OBE was a leading figure in the science of rubber and elasticity, and author of a number of influential texts....
in the journal Polymer. The BRRA sponsored Andrew Donald Booth
Andrew Donald Booth
Andrew Donald Booth was a British electrical engineer, physicist and computer scientist who led the invention of the magnetic drum memory for computers and invented Booth's multiplication algorithm....
's early research into computing at Birkbeck
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
and was home to the first of his All Purpose Electronic Computer
APEXC
The APEC, or All Purpose Electronic Computer series was designed by Andrew Donald Booth at Birkbeck College, London in the early 1950s. His work on the APEC series was sponsored by the British Rayon Research Association. Although the naming conventions are slightly unclear, it seems the first...
s built in 1952
Under Wilson's leadership, the staff of BRRA grew to nearly 300 and gained an international reputation in textiles research. The BRRA also offered annual Technological Scholarships in the Departments of Textiles at the University of Manchester and the University of Leeds.
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh opened the new BRRA laboratory at Heald Green on May 11, 1955. It cost £500,000. British Pathé filmed footage of research, at BRRA, on the strength of fabrics.
John Wilson was succeeded by Leonard Albert Wiseman
Leonard Albert Wiseman
Leonard Albert Wiseman OBE BSc ARI.C CText FTI , organic chemist, scientific intelligence analyst and scientific administrator...
in 1958.
Merger with Cotton Research Association
By at least 1955 it was apparent that there was potential for overlap in research with the work of the British Cotton Industry Research AssociationShirley Institute
The Shirley Institute was established in 1920 as the British Cotton Industry Research Association at The Towers in Didsbury, Manchester as a research centre dedicated to cotton production technologies...
. In 1957 an official agreement was made to avoid duplication.
Wilson retired from the BRRA in 1958, and Len Wiseman became Director.
Consensus emerged that a merger between the BCIRA and BRRA was needed. BRRA's life ended with its merger with the BCRA to form the Cotton, Silk, and Man-Made Fibres Research Association in 1961, better known as the Shirley Institute
Shirley Institute
The Shirley Institute was established in 1920 as the British Cotton Industry Research Association at The Towers in Didsbury, Manchester as a research centre dedicated to cotton production technologies...
. Len Wiseman was appointed its Deputy Director.
Notable employees
- LRG TreloarLRG TreloarProfessor L. R. G. Treloar, OBE was a leading figure in the science of rubber and elasticity, and author of a number of influential texts....
, author of texts and papers on polymer science - George PorterGeorge PorterGeorge Hornidge Porter, Baron Porter of Luddenham, OM, FRS was a British chemist.- Life :Porter was born in Stainforth, near Thorne, South Yorkshire. He was educated at Thorne Grammar School, then won a scholarship to the University of Leeds and gained his first degree in chemistry...
later Baron Porter of Luddenham, Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, and Nobel Laureate, - John WilsonJohn Wilson (industrial chemist)John Wilson CBE, MC & Bar, FRIC was Director of the British Rayon Research Association from 1948 to 1958. He was married to Edith Wilson and had six children.-Early life:...
- Derek Saunders, later Pro-Vice Chancellor of Cranfield Institute of Technology
- Robin BulloughRobin BulloughRobin K. Bullough was a British Mathematical Physicist famous for his contributions to the theory of solitons, in particular for his role in the development of the theory of the optical soliton, now commonly used, for example, in the theory of trans-oceanic optical fibre communication theory, but...
- Arthur S. LodgeArthur S. LodgeArthur S. Lodge was a prominent rheologist and the originator of the Lodge elastic liquid constitutive equation and inventor of the Lodge Stressmeter...
, rheologist, later at University of Wisconsin - Leonard Albert WisemanLeonard Albert WisemanLeonard Albert Wiseman OBE BSc ARI.C CText FTI , organic chemist, scientific intelligence analyst and scientific administrator...
Publications and articles by the BRRA and staff
- Application of high-speed photography to textile problems, G. A. J. Orchard, R. A. Barker, British Rayon Research Association
- The physics of rubber elasticity, L. R. G. Treloar Clarendon Press, 1958