Rayon facts for kids
Rayon is a manufactured fiber made from regenerated cellulose fiber. The many types and grades of rayon can 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.
Rayon is manufactured from naturally occurring polymers; hence, it is not considered to be synthetic. Technically, the term synthetic fiber is reserved for fully synthetic fibers. In manufacturing terms, rayon is classified as "a fiber formed by regenerating natural materials into a usable form". Specific types of rayon include viscose, modal and lyocell, each of which differs in the manufacturing process and the properties of the finished product.
Rayon is made from purified cellulose, harvested primarily from wood pulp, which is chemically converted into a soluble compound. It is then dissolved and forced through a spinneret to produce filaments which are chemically solidified, resulting in fibers of nearly pure cellulose. Unless the chemicals are handled carefully, workers can be seriously harmed by the carbon disulfide used to manufacture most rayon.
Images for kids
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Cellulosic fibre production (total of 2.76 million tonnes) in 2002
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Aqueous solution of Schweizer's reagent or cuoxam
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Lyocell shirt
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Simplified view of the xanthation of cellulose.
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A sample of rayon from a skirt photographed with a macro lens.
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Another skirt with a different texture.
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A blouse with a texture similar to the second.
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See also
In Spanish: Rayón para niños
