Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- History of Rayon
- Rayon Synthesis
– Rayon, a semi-synthetic fibre
- Uses of Rayon
- Summary
- Did You Know?
- What’s Next?
In the previous segment, we got introduced to Synthetic fibres. In this segment let us get introduced to Rayon.
What is the history of Rayon?
Silk fibre obtained from silkworm was discovered in China. The fabric obtained from silk fibre was very costly. But it’s beautiful texture fascinated everybody. The production of silk fibre was kept as a closely guarded secret for a long time.
As a result, many chemists began finding an alternative to it.
In around 1889, a French industrialist named Hilaire de Chardonnet introduced the
“Chardonnet silk” which was the first-ever man-made rayon manufactured at industrial scale.
Since then many varieties have been introduced that have the appearance of silk but are actually Rayon. Rayon is also called artificial silk.
How is Rayon synthesised?
Rayon is synthesised by the following steps:
- The commencing material for the production of Rayon is cellulose. Cellulose is converted into a soluble compound.
- This soluble compound is then pressed with force through an instrument having fine holes. This will lead to the formation of thin fibres.
- These fibres are treated with chemicals and at the end, rayon fibres are obtained.
Why is Rayon called semi-synthetic fibre?
The starting material for the production of rayon is cellulose, which is a plant-based material. Usually, the wood pulp is used as a source of cellulose. Hence, Rayon is not considered to be entirely synthetic. Rayon is known to be Semi-synthetic, that is partly natural and partly synthetic.
