Legally called Bamboo Rayon or Rayon Bamboo, it has the properties of being extremely absorbent with excellent

wicking properties, and is also sublimely soft. Some sources even say it is antibacterial or antimicrobial and
hypoallergenic. These properties make it a fabric that belongs next to your skin! They dye into radiant colors with our
Fiber Reactive Dyes! Also, bamboo is a fast growing crop requiring little or no chemicals to thrive, making it a much
more sustainable resource than non-organic cotton.

The majority of bamboo sheets on the market are made of bamboo viscose, also known as bamboo rayon.

For this reason, many bedding manufactures use both terms interchangeably. Bedding products made from bamboo
rayon are naturally hypoallergenic and thermoregulating, incredibly soft, moisture-wicking, and resist odor and
bacteria. Bamboo rayon is very absorbent and takes dye very easily, allowing for a variety of color options.

As a plant-based fiber, viscose is not inherently toxic or polluting. However, the concern with bamboo rayon is in the
chemically-intensive processes that have harmful impacts on the environment, workers, and local communities.
Fabricated in countries where environmental regulations are loose or non-existent, a common solvent used in the
production is carbon disulfide. This toxic chemical has been linked to widespread severe and often lethal illness
among factory workers, and can cause reproductive harm and damage to the nervous system. Moreover, the
recovery of this solvent in most viscose factories is around 50%, which means that the other half goes into the
environment–contaminating waterways and endangering aquatic life.

It is a re-generated fibre. Bamboo fibre is not directly obtained from bamboo tree. It is a cellulosic fibre. It is
manufactured from the pulp of bamboo plant’s wood. It is a re-generated rayon made of cellulose obtained from
bamboo plant. Since this fibre is re-generated from bamboo pulp, so that this is called bamboo rayon fibre.

PRODUCTION OF BAMBOO RAYON

There are two processes used to produce bamboo fibres:

• Mechanical process

• Chemical process

In these two processes chemical method is used for the production of bamboo rayon

CHEMICAL METHOD:

. In this process bamboo fibres are regenerated from cellulose obtained from bamboo pulp like rayon or modal. “Due
to much similar method of production bamboo fibres obtained by this method is also known as bamboo rayon”.
Chemically manufactured bamboo fibre is a regenerated cellulosic fibre. Chemically manufactured bamboo fibre has
feel and hand similar to that of rayon and modal.

Chemical method of producing bamboo fibres is basically the same process, which is used to produce rayon fibre
from wood or cotton lints. Generally hydrolysis alkalization with multi-phase bleaching technology is used in
chemical process of producing bamboo fibres. This is very common and dominating technology. The whole process
completes in following steps:

First of all the leaves and soft inner pith is extacted from the bamboo trunk. This material is crushed mechanically.
2. The crushed material is kept in a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) having concentration of 15% - 20% for
soaking. This soaking process takes 1- 3 hours to complete. Temperature during soaking is kept between 20 °C – 25
°C. A alkali solution of bamboo cellulose results after completion of soaking.

3. The alkali solution of bamboo cellulose is then pressed to remove any excess amount of sodium hydroxide
solution. Now this alkali cellulose is crushed with the help of a grinding machine . the grinded material is left for
drying for a period of 24 hours.

4. Approximately a third as much carbon disulphide is added to the bamboo alkali cellulose. The carbon disulphide
sulphurize the bamboo alkali cellulose and compound jell results. Any remaining amount of carbon disulphide is
removed by evaporation due to decompression and cellulose sodium xanthogenate results.

5. A diluted solution of sodium hydroxide is added to the cellulose sodium xanthogenate. This sodium hydroxide
completely dissolves the cellulose sodium xanthogenate. Viscose solution of it results now. This viscose solution
contains 5% sodium hydroxide and 7%-15% bamboo cellulose.

6. “Now this viscose solution is ready for spinning”.The viscose bamboo cellulose is passed through spinneret
nozzles with the help of high pressure feeding pump. The fibres coming out from nozzles of spinneret go into a large
vessel having solution of diluted sulphuric acid. This sulphuric acid makes hard to viscose bamboo cellulose sodium
xanthogenate and reconverts it to cellulosic bamboo fibres. These fibres are wound on to the bobbins or cut into
stapple fibres as per requirement

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES (PPT PRESENTATION)

Fiber extraction through chemical process (Rayon Process)

The method essentially follows the same process as used to manufacture regenerated viscose rayon using hydrolysis
alkalization with the multi-phase bleaching principle (Erdumlu and Ozipek 2008; Waite 2009; Ogunwusi 2013) and
the process is as follows.

1.

The bamboo culm is crushed into smaller fractions and soaked in a solution of 18 % NaOH at 20–25 °C for 1–3 h to
form alkali cellulose.

2.

The bamboo alkali cellulose is pressed to remove excess NaOH solution, crushed by a grinder and left to dry for 24 h.

3.

In this stage, CS2 is added to the bamboo alkali cellulose to sulfurise the compound, causing it to jell.

4.

The remaining CS2 is removed by evaporation due to decompression, resulting in sodium xanthogenate.
5.

A diluted solution of NaOH is added to the cellulose sodium xanthogenate, which dissolve it into a viscose solution
consisting of about 5 % NaOH and 7–15 % bamboo fiber cellulose.

6.

The viscose solution is forced through spinneret nozzles into a larger container of diluted sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
solution which, hardens the viscose and reconverts it to cellulose bamboo fiber which are spun into yarns (to be
woven or knitted).

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Breathability Very breathable

Moisture-wicking abilities High

Heat retention abilities Medium

Stretchability (give) High

Prone to pilling/bubbling High

Low degree of crystallinity

High water retention release ability

Desirable comfort

High permeability

Soft to handle and pleasing tactile sensation

Excellent dye ability

MORPHOLOGY

Conclusion

The potential of bamboo plants as a resource for making textile fabrics is very high but it remains largely unrealized.
A great deal of attention is focused on bamboo’s sustainable attributes. The plant’s high growth rate and carbon-
absorbing properties makes it the most important plant fibers. Bamboo is a recurring and harvestable plant; it does
not require replanting after harvest but will regenerate from its rhizome root structure. However, sustainable
cultivation and management of bamboo resources should be top priority for the industries exploiting bamboo
resources and importance should be given on practices employed for sustainable bamboo cultivation. Nevertheless,
the economic benefits should not be achieved through environmental cost.

Natural bamboo fiber that has been processed mechanically is environmentally friendly but not yet commercially
viable or affordable. Moreover, most bamboo fibers and fabrics in the market are produced by viscose process which
uses chemical solvents that raise environmental concerns besides being quite different from the original bamboo
fibers. While bamboo rayon is a good choice relative to other manmade fiber options, a naturally processed bamboo
fiber would be far superior and preferable. Bamboo rayon would have a smooth, silky hand like other rayon. On the
contrary, natural bamboo fiber being alike to bast fiber in chemical composition would produce linen like fabric but it
might not possess any antibacterial properties as claimed by many. However, regarding moisture-transport
performance properties researchers argue that bamboo fiber has a larger moisture regain capability than other
natural fibers such as cotton because of its loose structure and existence of disordered non-cellulose substances (Li
et al. 2010).

However, bamboo based textiles are not yet achieved their full potential and cleaner production processes are
appearing. At present, there are only a small number of manufacturing plants in China that manufacture natural
bamboo fiber. Ecologically pioneer textile manufacturing companies like Litrax and Lenzing have already introduced
greener manufacturing processes into bamboo textiles. Researches are going on full swings for the development of
eco-friendly, natural bamboo fabric. With abundant sources of raw materials, relatively low cost, and unique
performance of bamboo fiber it is only a matter of time to develop green and pure bamboo textiles. Further, bamboo
textile industry has the potential to provide livelihood for millions of people worldwide.

Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made by chemically reshaping cellulose. Cellulose extracted from bamboo is suitable
for processing into viscose rayon (rayon is also made from cellulose from other sources).

Bamboo leaves and the soft, inner pith from the hard bamboo trunk are extracted using a steeping process and then
mechanically crushed to extract the cellulose.[4] The viscose rayon process then treats the fibers with lye, and adds
carbon disulfide to form sodium cellulose xanthate. After time, temperature, and various inorganic and organic
additives (including the amount of air contact) determining the final degree of polymerization, the xanthate is
acidified to regenerate the cellulose and release dithiocarbonic acid that later decomposes back to carbon disulfide
and water.[5]

Viscose manufactured from bamboo is promoted as having environmental advantages over viscose made with
cellulose extracted from wood pulp. Bamboo crops may be grown on marginal land unsuitable for forestry; demand
for bamboo has sometimes led to clearing forests to plant bamboo. But this is less common since Chinese forestry
policy reforms in the 1990s.[6] The viscose processing results in the same chemical waste products as wood-pulp
viscose, notably carbon disulfide. But bamboo cellulose is suitable for a closed-loop viscose process that captures all
solvents used.[6]

Workers are seriously harmed by inhaling the carbon disulfide (CS2) used to make bamboo viscose. Effects include
psychosis, heart attacks, liver damage, and blindness. Rayon factories rarely give information on their occupational
exposure limits and compliance. Even in developed countries, safety laws are too lax to prevent harm.[7][8][9]
Occupational safety Edit

There are health threats from rayon manufacture. Bamboo rayon manufacture, like other rayon manufacture,
exposes rayon workers to volatile carbon disulfide. Inhaling it causes serious health problems. Around 75 percent of
all polluting emissions from the bamboo viscose process occur as air emissions.[10][11][12]

While it is possible to protect workers from the CS2, some legal limits for occupational exposure are still far higher
than recommended by medical researchers. Rayon factories vary widely in the amount of CS2 they expose their
workers to, and in the information they give about their safety limits or their compliance.[7][

Plant fibres have always been contributing explicitly to the economic prosperity and sustainability in our lives as they
have application in almost every item used in our daily routine. Of late, there have been increasing demands for even
more comfortable and eco-friendly products, and to satisfy them, researchers in the arena of textiles have been
focussing on the renewable and biodegradable sources and environment-friendly processes. Among the natural fibre
plants, bamboo is by far the most popular, owing to its versatile applications and for its significant contribution to the
environment against negligible intake for its propagation.

Bamboos are the member of a group of woody perennials evergreen to deciduous plants of the true grass family
Poaceae, which is a subfamily of Bambusoideae, from the tribe Bambuseae. The total population of bamboos in the
world is represented by 80-90 genera and about 1,000-1,500 species. India occupies the largest area and is the
second largest reserve of bamboos in the world. For textile applications, bamboo fibres are mostly produced from
the tallest bamboo species Phyllostachys edulis which is more popularly known as 'Moso'. Also, bamboo being one of
the high yielding sources of cellulose, regenerated bamboo viscose fibres too have conquered the market. This has
happened mainly due to their claimed antibacterial nature, biodegradable properties, high moisture absorption
capacity, soft smooth feel and UV protective capability. Currently, regenerated bamboo fibres are used in apparels
(undergarments, sports textiles, t-shirts and socks), hygienic products (sanitary napkins, absorbing pads, masks,
bandages and surgical gowns), ultraviolet protective clothing, home furnishing textiles, food packaging bags, etc. Due
to such unique combination of outstanding and diverse functional properties, bamboo has been attracting much
attention from the academia and the industry. Although, the manufacturers and marketers emphasize on the

demonstration of exquisite properties by the bamboo products, these claims are sometimes viewed with a bit of
suspicion and require validation via research.

Products made from bamboo are often labeled as ‘eco-friendly’, ‘bio-degradable’ and ‘anti-microbial’ irrespective of
their method of manufacturing. The claims may not always portray the products authenticity and true environmental
impact. By far, viscose process is predominantly used to create fibers from bamboo but the properties of natural
bamboo fibers in such bamboo viscose products have been lost. However, bamboo textiles are not yet achieved their
full potential and cleaner production processes are appearing. With abundant sources of raw material, relatively low
cost; and unique performance of bamboo fiber it is only a matter of time to develop green and pure bamboo textiles.

Bamboo is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing plants on Earth (some species can grow one or two meters in a
single day). It creates such a complex root system that it’s not necessary to replant it after harvest, bamboo simply
grows back just from the roots. Therefore, it’s almost miraculous when it comes to sustainable development! And
because bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial, no pesticides are used in its growing. Summed up, bamboo behaves as a
super quickly growing weed, it needs neither fertilization nor pesticides and to top it off, it regrows on its own.

Bamboo doesn’t form fibre on its own (as opposed to cotton). Basically, there are two ways to produce a bamboo
thread; in both cases bamboo has to be dissolved first.

When using historically older method (mechanically processed bamboo fibre), bamboo is dissolved by natural
enzymes. Fabric produced from these fibres is quite tough and therefore was never favoured in textile industry. Such
a fabric is not very fitting for cloth diapers as it would most likely make the baby feel pretty uncomfortable.

On the other hand, modern fabric made of bamboo rayon is of such structure and softness that it’s ideal for cloth
diaper production. And not only for that. We all enjoy its softness, anti-bacterial properties, thermo-regulating
stability and all the other advantages, as bamboo clothes are a huge trend right now. The mechanism of bamboo
rayon’s production was developed in the 80’s (of 20th century) and has quickly become the most innovative natural
source of material in textile industry. The production of bamboo rayon is succinctly described as follows: firstly,
bamboo is macerated in alkaline solution that makes the bamboo dissolve to cellulose. Such a solution is then run
under high pressure through a nozzle, thus becoming a fibre. All remnants of the alkaline solution are removed
during the process; the resulting fibre being still bamboo, with changed molecular structure.