Rayon

Rayon, also called viscose[1] is a semi-synthetic fiber[2] made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products.[3] It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. Many types and grades of viscose fibers and films exist. Some imitate the feel and texture of natural fibers such as silk, wool, cotton, and linen. The types that resemble silk are often called artificial silk. It can be woven or knit to make textiles for clothing and other purposes.[4]

Rayon production involves solubilizing cellulose to allow turning the fibers into required form. Three common solubilization methods are:

  • The cuprammonium process (not in use today), using ammoniacal solutions of copper salts[5]
  • The viscose process, the most common today,[6][7] using alkali and carbon disulfide
  • The Lyocell process, using amine oxide, avoids producing neurotoxic carbon disulfide but is more expensive[8][9]
  1. ^ "Viscose CV Introduction". Swicofil.com.
  2. ^ "The Differences Between Synthetic, Semi-synthetic, & Natural Fibers". Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  3. ^ Kauffman, George B. (1993). "Rayon: The First Semi-Synthetic Fiber Product". Journal of Chemical Education. 70 (11): 887. Bibcode:1993JChEd..70..887K. doi:10.1021/ed070p887.
  4. ^ Krässig, Hans; Schurz, Josef; Steadman, Robert G.; Schliefer, Karl; Albrecht, Wilhelm; Mohring, Marc; Schlosser, Harald (2002). "Cellulose". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a05_375.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
  5. ^ Burchard, Walther; Habermann, Norbert; Klüfers, Peter; Seger, Bernd; Wilhelm, Ulf (1994). "Cellulose in Schweizer's Reagent: A Stable, Polymeric Metal Complex with High Chain Stiffness". Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English. 33 (8): 884–887. doi:10.1002/anie.199408841.
  6. ^ Nijhuis, Michelle (June 2009). "Bamboo Boom: Is This Material for You?". Scientific American. Vol. 19, no. 2. pp. 60–65. Bibcode:2009SciAm..19f..60N. doi:10.1038/scientificamericanearth0609-60 (inactive 1 July 2025). Retrieved 2025-05-19.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
  7. ^ Swan, Norman; Blanc, Paul (20 February 2017). The Health Burden of Viscose Rayon. Radio National. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  8. ^ "Regenerated Cellulose by the Lyocell Process, a Brief Review of the Process and Properties". BioResources. 2018.
  9. ^ Tierney, John (December 2005). Kinetics of Cellulose Dissolution in N-Methyl Morpholine-N-Oxide and Evaporative Processes of Similar Solutions (Thesis).