Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber. Cellulose as polymer of β-D-glucose Cellulose in 3D Cellulose (C6H10O5)n is a polysaccharide of beta-glucose. ... Fiber or fibre[1] is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. ...

Cellulose is treated with alkali and carbon disulfide to yield viscose.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2050x875, 17 KB) Summary Schematic view of part of the cellulose processing to rayon. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2050x875, 17 KB) Summary Schematic view of part of the cellulose processing to rayon. ...

History

Apart from being a naturally occurring polymer rayon is also the name of the world's coolest film production company. Founded in 1995 by Garnet Mae, his brother Christopher Hiraishi Mae and Raymond Meyer, rayon productions have made over 10 independent feature films since this date. Check out www.rayon.com.au for more details.

Rayon is produced from naturally occurring polymers and therefore it is not a synthetic fiber, but a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber. A polymer is a substance composed of molecules with large molecular mass consisting of repeating structural units, or monomers, connected by covalent chemical bonds. ...

Georges Audemars developed the first "artificial silk" about 1855, but his method was impractical for commercial use. Hilaire de Charbonnet, Comte de Chardonnay, patented "Chardonnay silk" in 1884, but it was so flammable it had no safe use. Finally, in 1894, Charles Frederick Cross, Edward John Bevan, and Clayton Beadle patented the first safe and practical artificial silk, which they named "viscose." Avtex Fibers Incorporated began selling their formulation in 1910 in the United States. The name "rayon" was adopted in 1924, with "viscose" being used for the viscous organic liquid used to make both rayon and cellophane. In Europe, though, the fabric itself became known as "viscose," which has been ruled an acceptable alternative term for rayon by the Federal Trade Commission. Silk dresses Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Flammable or Flammability refers to the ease at which a substance will ignite, causing fire or combustion. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Charles Frederick Cross was born in 1855. ... Edward John Bevan (born 1856, died 1921) was a chemist. ... Viscose is a viscous organic liquid used to make rayon and cellophane. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of processed cellulose. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... FTC headquarters, Washington, D.C. The Federal Trade Commission (or FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act. ...

Rayon was only produced as a filament fiber until the 1930s when it was discovered that broken waste rayon could be used in staple fiber. The physical properties of rayon were unchanged until the development of high-tenacity rayon in the 1940s. Further research and development led to the creation of high-wet-modulus rayon (HWM rayon) in the 1950s ^[1]. The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Major fiber properties

Rayon is a very versatile fiber and has the same comfort properties as other natural fibers and can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton and linen. The fibers are easily dyed in a wide range of colors. Rayon fabrics are soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent, but they do not insulate body heat making them ideal for use in hot and humid climates ^[2]. The durability and appearance retention of regular rayon are low, especially when wet; also rayon has the lowest elastic recovery of any fiber. However, HWM rayon is much stronger and exhibits higher durability and appearance retention. Recommended care for regular rayon is dry-cleaning only, HWM Rayon can also be machine washed ^[1]. Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, Arizona Wool is the fibre derived from the fur of animals of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats, alpacas, llamas and rabbits may also... Cotton ready for harvest. ... Torn linen cloth, recovered from the Dead Sea Linen is a material made from the fibers of the flax plant. ... Dyeing is the process of changing the colour of a yarn or cloth by treatment with a dye. ...

Gallery of textures

A sample of rayon from a skirt, photographed with a macro lens. Image File history File linksMetadata Rayon_closeup_1. ... Soda bubbles in a glass — a macro photograph. ...

Another skirt with a different texture. Image File history File linksMetadata Rayon_closeup_2. ...

A blouse with a texture similar to the second. Image File history File linksMetadata Rayon_closeup_3. ...

Physical structure of rayon

Regular rayon has lengthwise lines called striations and its cross-section is an indented circular shape. The cross-sections of HWM and cupra rayon are rounder. Filament Rayon yarns vary from 80 to 980 filaments per yarn and vary in size from 40 to 5000 denier. Staple fibers range from 1.5 to 15 denier and are mechanically or chemically crimped. Rayon fibers are naturally very bright, but the addition of delustering pigments cuts down on this natural brightness ^[1]. Denier can refer to: Denier, linear density of mass in fibres. ...

Production method

Regular rayon (or viscose) is the most widely produced form of rayon. This method of rayon production has been utilized since the early 1900s and it has the ability to produce either filament or staple fibers. The process is as follows:

1. Cellulose: Production begins with processed cellulose
2. Immersion: The cellulose is dissolved in caustic soda
3. Pressing: The solution is then pressed between rollers to remove excess liquid
4. White Crumb: The pressed sheets are crumbled or shredded to produce what is known as "white crumb"
5. Aging: The "white crumb" aged through exposure to oxygen
6. Xanthation: The aged "white crumb" is mixed with carbon disulfide in a process known as Xanthation
7. Yellow Crumb: Xanthation changes the chemical makeup of the cellulose mixture and the resulting product is now called "yellow crumb"
8. Viscose: The "yellow crumb" is dissolved in a caustic solution to form viscose
9. Ripening: The viscose is set to stand for a period of time, allowing it to ripen
10. Filtering: After ripening, the viscose is filtered to remove any undissolved particles
11. Degassing: Any bubbles of air are pressed from the viscose in a degassing process
12. Extruding: The viscose solution is extruded through a spinneret, which resembles a shower head with many small holes
13. Acid Bath: As the viscose exits the spinneret, it lands in a bath of sulfuric acid resulting in the formation of rayon filaments
14. Drawing: The rayon filaments are stretched, known as drawing, to straighten out the fibers
15. Washing: The fibers are then washed to remove any residual chemicals
16. Cutting: If filament fibers are desired the process ends here. The filaments are cut down when producing staple fibers ^[3].

High Wet Modulus rayon (HWM) is a modified version of viscose that has a greater strength when wet. It also has the ability to be mercerized like cotton. HWM rayons are also known as "polynosic" or can be identified by the trade name MODAL ^[4]. Mercerized cotton yarn reels Mercerization is a treatment for cotton fabric and thread mostly employed to give cotton a lustrous appearance. ...

High Tenacity rayon is another modified version of viscose that has almost twice the strength of HWM. This type of rayon is typically used for industrial purposes such as tire cord ^[4].

Cupramonium rayon has properties similar to viscose but during production, the cellulose is combined with copper and ammonia (Schweizer's reagent). Due to the environmental effects of this production method, cupramonium rayon is no longer produced in the United States ^[4]. General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Standard atomic weight 63. ... Ammonia is a compound with the formula NH3. ... Schweizers reagent (tetraamminecopper dihydroxide, [Cu(NH3)4](OH)2) is prepared by precipitating copper(II) hydroxide from an aqueous solution of copper sulfate using sodium hydroxide, then dissolving the precipitate in a solution of ammonium hydroxide. ...

Producers

Trade names are used within the rayon industry to determine the type of rayon used.

Bemberg, for example, is a trade name for cupramonium rayon that is only produced in Italy due to EPA regulations in the US ^[5]. Bemberg or Bemberg silk is the trade name for a special kind of rayon. ... EPA redirects here. ...

Modal is a widely used form of rayon produced by Lenzing Fibers Corp. which is based in northern Austria ^[6]. Modal® is a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. ...

Galaxy, Danufil, and Viloft are rayon brands produced by Kelheim Fibres, a German manufacturer. ^[7]

Acordis is a major manufacturer of cellulose based fibers and yarns. Production facilities can be found throughout Europe, the U.S. and Brazil ^[8].

Visil rayon is a flame retardant form of viscose which has silica embedded in the fiber during manufacturing. ^[9]. Flame retardants are materials that inhibit or resist the spread of fire. ... R-phrases R42 R43 R49 S-phrases S22 S36 S37 S45 S53 Flash point non-flammable Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ...

North American Rayon Corp of Tennessee produced viscose rayon until its closure in the year 2000. ^[10]. Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ...

Grasim of India is the largest producer of rayon in the world (claiming 24% market share). It has plants in Nagda, Kharach and Harihar - all in India. ^[11].

Uses of rayon

Some major rayon fiber uses include apparel (e.g. blouses, dresses, jackets, lingerie, linings, suits, ties), furnishings (e.g. bedspreads, blankets, window treatments, upholstery, slipcovers), industrial uses (e.g. medical surgery products, non-woven products, tire cord), and other uses (e.g. feminine hygiene products) ^[3].

Carbon fiber/weave

External links

Look up rayon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Links to external chemical sources