Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Carpet test strip partly treated with Ludox colloidal silica

Image · not yet checked at the source

Date: 1955 (year approximate)
Held by: Hagley Museum and Library
Collection: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341), Series IX. Fabrics and finishes
Number: 1972341_2649 (related: 1972341_2692)
Themes: Nylon & synthetic fibers (DuPont), Woven carpet

View at the source Cited in chapter 6, note 14

Cite this source

“Carpet test strip partly treated with Ludox colloidal silica,” 1955 (year approximate). 1972341_2649 (related: 1972341_2692), DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341), Series IX. Fabrics and finishes, Hagley Museum and Library. digital.hagley.org/1972341_2649.

Research notes

Photograph: treated carpet clean after vacuuming, untreated part "dirty and dingy". An early soil-resistance image for carpet (DuPont Ludox). Found via search-engine results (Hagley's site blocks automated reading): open the link to confirm and see the image. Update 2026-10-28 (Claude in Chrome): item found on Hagley's new site. Catalogue title "Test strip of carpet partially treated with Ludox collodial silica" [sic], 1972341_2649, Date Created "1955 (year approximate)", Series IX. Fabrics and finishes. Summary: "This is a test strip of carpet, portions of which have been treated with Ludox collodial silica. After vacuuming, treated areas emerge clean, while untreated portions remain dirty and dingy." A companion photograph, "Carpet treated by Ludox colloidal silica" (1972341_2692, same date), says Ludox "is rapidly being adopted by the carpet industry as a soil retardant. It is easily applied at the mill by a multiple spray method, as shown here." The earlier number 1972341_1003 was a guess and is wrong. Found: Hagley Digital Archives, collection search "carpet", 2026-10-28.