Rayon Fabric Information
Rayon was developed in France in 1884 as an artificial substitute to silk. It was called artificial silk until 1924, when its name was changed to rayon to describe the properties of the almost metallic, lustrous fabric as it reflected the rays of the sun. Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made from cotton fiber or regenerated/reformed wood cellulose. Rayon is also known as a regenerated cellulose fiber.
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Types
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There are different types of rayon, including regular rayon, viscose rayon, high tenacity rayon, cupramonium rayon, high wet modulus rayon and rayon microfibers. Specialty rayons include flame-retardant fibers, micro denier fibers, Tencel rayon, Lyocell rayon and fiber ML (multi limbed).
Manufacture
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Different types of rayon are produced differently. The manufacturing of viscose rayon, for example, follows several steps, including steeping, pressing, shredding, aging, xanthation, dissolving, ripening, filtering, degassing, spinning, drawing, washing and finally, cutting. The manufacturing of cuprammonium rayon initiates when a solution of cuprammonium hydroxide and cellulosic material is heated in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere. The solution is extruded into a solution of sulfuric acid. This decomposes the cuprammonium complex into cellulose.
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Properties
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Rayon is not a single type of fiber but a large family of cellulose-based fibers, each with different properties and end uses. Regular rayon, for instance, is soft but susceptible to wrinkling, stretching and shrinking. Polynosic rayon is the strongest in the family of rayons and best resistant to stretching. Acetate rayon is soft but fragile and sensitive to heat. Almost all rayons are susceptible to moisture and weaken with water.
Status
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The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, recognized rayon as a man made fiber in 1925.
Uses
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Rayon fabric is used in the apparel industry to make pants, linings, jackets, blouses, sportswear, ties, suits and work clothes. It makes home furnishing items such as curtains, blankets, tablecloths, bedsheets and bedspreads, slipcovers and upholstery. Rayon has industrial uses and makes medical surgical products and tire cords. Various types of feminine hygiene products are also made with rayon.
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References
- Photo Credit pink silk image by Roslen Mack from Fotolia.com
