Apparatus And Chemicals

@:- Beakers(250 ml.)

@:- Conical flask(250ml.)

@:- Filter flask

@:- Funnel

@:-glass rod

@:- Sodium hydroxide solution

@:- Copper sulphate

@:- 50% Ammonia solution

@:- Filter paper strips

@:- Syringe

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 THEORY
Of all the fibers, rayon is probably the most perplexing to consumers. It can be found in
cotton-like end uses, as well as sumptuous velvets and taffetas. It may function successfully
in absorbent hygiene and incontinence pads and equally well providing strength in tire cords.
What is this fiber that has so many faces?

Rayon was the first manufactured fiber. The term rayon was officially adopted by the textile
industry. Unlike most man-made fibers, rayon is not synthetic. It is made from wood pulp, a
naturally-occurring, cellulose-based raw material. As a result, rayon's properties are more
similar to those of natural cellulosic fibers, such as cotton or linen, than those of
thermoplastic, petroleum-based synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester.

Although rayon is made from wood pulp, a relatively inexpensive and renewable resource,
processing requires high water and energy use, and has contributed to air and water
pollution. Modernization of manufacturing plants and processes combined with availability
of raw materials has increased rayon's competitiveness in the market.

History
Rayon is the generic term for fiber (and the resulting yarn and fabric) manufactured of
regenerated cellulose by any one of six processes. Its importance as a fiber lies in its
versatility, and in the fact that it was the first viable manufactured fiber.

As far back as 1664, English naturalist Robert Hooke theorized that artificial filaments
might be spun from a substance similar to that which silkworms secrete to make silk. This

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was often tried by scientists in the ensuing years who sought an "artificial silk", yet no one
was to succeed until in 1855 the Frenchman did so, George Audemars. By dipping a needle
into a viscous solution of mulberry bark pulp and gummy rubber, he was able to make a
thread. While interesting from a scientific standpoint, this process was hardly viable
economically - it was very slow, and required a great deal of skill and precision.

The first commercial synthetic fiber was produced by Hilaire de Bernigaud, Count of
Chardonnay (1839-1924) after 29 years of research, was patented in 1884, and manufactured
by him in 1889. This cellulose-based fabric known as Chardonnay silk was pretty but very
flammable, it was removed from the market.

Soon after, the English chemist Charles Frederick Cross and his collaborators Edward John
Bevan and Clayton Beadle discovered the viscose process in 1891 (1892?).

Courtaulds Fibers produced the first commercial viscose rayon in 1905; the first in the
United States was in 1910 by the American Viscose Company. Initially rayon was called
"Artificial Silk", and many other names.

In 1924 (1926?), a committee formed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and various
commercial associations decided upon the name "rayon". It was called "rayon" for one of
two reasons: either because of its brightness and similarities in structure with cotton (sun =
ray, -on = cotton). Or because the naming committee couldn't find a name from the
thousands entered in a contest they sponsored, and who hoped to shed a "ray of light" on the
subject (from rayon, French for ray).

Properties
Viscose Rayon has a silk-like aesthetic with superb drape and feel and retains its rich
brilliant colors. Its cellulosic base contributes many properties similar to those of cotton or
other natural cellulosic fibers. Rayon is moisture absorbent (more so than cotton),
breathable, comfortable to wear, and easily dyed in vivid colors. It does not build up static
electricity, nor will it pill unless the fabric is made from short, low-twist yarns.

Rayon is comfortable, soft to the skin, and has moderate dry strength and abrasion
resistance. Like other cellulosic fibers, it is not resilient, which means that it will wrinkle.
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Rayon withstands ironing temperatures slightly less than those of cotton. It may be attacked
by silverfish and termites, but generally resists insect damage. It will mildew, but that
generally is not a problem.

One of rayon's strengths is its versatility and ability to blend easily with many fibers—
sometimes to reduce cost, other times for luster, softness, or absorbency and resulting
comfort.

Rayon has moderate resistance to acids and alkalis and generally the fiber itself is not
damaged by bleaches; however, dyes used in the fabric may experience color change. As a
cellulosic fiber, rayon will burn, but flame retardant finishes can be applied.

Fiber Properties overview

 General Characteristics:
Rayon as a cloth is soft and comfortable. It drapes well, which is one of the reasons it
is so desirable as an apparel fabric. Most characteristics are variable depending on
processing, additives and finishing treatments, not to mention fabric construction.
 Absorbency:
Rayon is the most absorbent of all cellulose fibers, even more so than cotton and
linen. Because of this, rayon absorbs perspiration and allows it to evaporate away
from the skin, making it an excellent summer fabric. Its high absorbency applies
equally to dyes, allowing beautiful, deep, rich colours.
 Strength:
It loses a great deal of strength when wet. Because of this, it stretches and shrinks
more than cotton.
 Abrasion resistance:
Poor due to inelasticity of the fibers. It is easily damaged by scraping and will pill on
the surface of the cloth.
 Flammability:
Because of its excessive flammability, it inspired the Flammable Fabrics Act. The
FFA was enacted by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1953 in response to public
concern over a number of serious burn accidents involving brushed rayon high pile

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 sweaters (referred to as "torch sweaters") and children's cowboy chaps which could
easily catch fire and flash burn.
 Static:
No static build-up.

Comparative Rating
Parameters
Cotton Viscose Polyester
Comfort

Moisture Regain Good Very good Poor

Thermal protection Good Very good Poor
Air permeability Very good Good Poor
Softness Good Very good Poor
Smoothness Poor Good Very good
Static dissipation Good Very good Poor

Aesthetic

Drape Good Very good Poor

Luster Poor Very good Very good
Crease recovery Poor Poor Very good
Uniformity Poor Very good Good

Utility Performance

Antipilling Good Very good Poor

Wash & wear Good Poor Very good

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Applications
 Yarns:

embroidery thread, chenille, cord, novelty yarns

 Fabrics:

crepe, gabardine, suiting, lace, outerwear fabrics and linings for fur coats &
outerwear.

Apparel:
blouses, dresses, saris, jackets, lingerie, linings, millinery (hats), slacks, sport shirts,
sportswear, suits, ties, work clothes.

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  Domestic Textiles:

bedspreads, blankets, curtains, draperies, sheets, slip covers, tablecloths, upholstery.

 Industrial Textiles:

high-tenacity rayon is used as reinforcement to mechanical rubber goods (tires,

conveyor belts, hoses), applications within the aerospace, agricultural and textile
industries, braided cord, tapes

Various:

sausage casing, cellophane

Grades

 flat yarn
 high tenacity
 fibers
 tow
 tops
 spun yarns

Jet spun viscose yarn Ne

30/1, low pilling

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Revised Siro spun
viscose yarn Ne 30/1,
low pilling

Types of Rayon
There are four major types or modifications of rayon. Understanding each type should help
clarify differences in product performance.

1. "Regular rayon" has the largest market share. It is typically found in apparel and
home furnishings and identified on labels by the term "viscose." The distinguishing
property of regular rayon is its low wet strength. As a result, it becomes unstable and
may stretch or shrink when wet. Dry cleaning is usually recommended to preserve the
appearance of fabrics made from this fiber. If machine washed, untreated regular
rayon can shrink as much as 10 percent.
2. High Wet Modulus (HWM) rayon is a modified viscose that has virtually the same
properties as regular rayon, plus high wet strength. HWM rayon can be machine
washed and tumble dried and perform much like cotton in similar end uses. HWM
rayon can also be mercerized, like cotton, for increased strength and luster. The terms
frequently used to describe HWM rayon in apparel include "polynosic" rayon or the
trade name MODALTM.
3. High Tenacity Rayon is a modification of "regular rayon" to provide exceptional
strength (two times that of HWM rayon). High tenacity rayon is primarily found in
tire cord and industrial end uses. It may be finished, chemically coated, or rubberized
for protection from moisture and potential loss of dimensional stability and strength
during use.
4. Cupramonium Rayon is another type with properties similar to those of viscose or
regular rayon. The manufacturing process differs somewhat from that of regular rayon
and is less environmentally friendly. As a result, cupramonium rayon is no longer
produced in the United States.

Other types of rayon have been developed for specialized end uses. These include
disposable, non-woven markets, and high-absorption rayon fibers with moisture-holding

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properties for disposable diapers, hygiene and incontinence pads, as well as medical
supplies.

Microfibers are not a type of rayon, but rather a very fine fiber that can be manufactured
from either regular or HWM rayon. Microfibers are generally less than one denier in
diameter. Rayon microfibers have been successfully produced at 0.9 denier. Fabrics from
microfibers are very drapable and silk-like in hand and appearance.

Processability

Fiber Production
By using two different chemicals and manufacturing techniques, two basic types of rayon
were developed - viscose rayon and cupramonium. Other processes for rayon include the
polynosic (modal) process and the now obsolete nitrocellulose and saponified acetate
processes. The nitrocellulose process is likely obsolete not only because the viscose and
cupramonium processes are more effective, they are also safer; the nitrocellulose process
results in a fiber with explosive properties.

As recently as 1992 there has been an entirely new process developed for producing
regenerated cellulose fibers: the Lyocell process, developed by Courtaulds. While it is
sufficiently different from rayon to almost be in a class by itself, the U.S. Federal Trade
commission has formally amended the textile rules to add Lyocell as a subclass of rayon.

As viscose is the most common and recognized process for making rayon today, the process
is outlined below. While the United States government considers fibers from all the above
processes rayon, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) prefers the name
viscose for rayon (regenerated cellulose) obtained by the viscose process. The name viscose
was derived from the word viscous, which describes the liquid state of the spinning solution.

Dissolution
The cellulosic raw materials for rayon are wood chips (usually from spruce or pine) or
cotton linters. These are treated to produce sheets of purified cellulose containing 87-98%
cellulose. They are then bleached with sodium hypochloride (NaOCl) to remove natural
colour. These cellulose sheets are then soaked in 18% caustic soda for 1 to 2 hours
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producing sheets of alkali cellulose. Any excess alkali is pressed out. The substance is
broken up into flakes or grains called cellulose crumbs, which are aged for two or three days
under controlled temperature and humidity. Liquid carbon disulfide is added to the crumbs
to change the cellulose into cellulose xanthate, a light orange substance that is still in crumb
form. These crumbs are dissolved in a weak solution of caustic soda and transformed into a

viscous solution called "viscose", honey-like in colour and consistency.

Extrusion
To produce the rayon filament, the viscose solution is aged, filtered, then vacuum-treated to
remove any air bubbles that could weaken the filament and cause it to break. It is then
pumped through spinnerets into a bath of sulfuric acid, which coagulates the cellulose
xanthate to form regenerated filaments of 100% cellulose. The many variations and different
properties of viscose such as luster, strength, softness and affinity for dyes, are influenced
here by varying the technique and by the addition of external materials.

Purification
Once extruded, the freshly formed viscose must be purified and strengthened. It is
thoroughly washed, treated with a dilute solution of sodium sulfide to remove any sulfur
impurities. It may be bleached to remove a slight yellowness and to secure even white
colour, and then given a final washing.

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