Regenerated

Cellulosic Fibres

Tanvir Mahady Dip

Bangladesh University of Textiles
Topics

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

1. Introduction to Regenerated Fibres,

2. Broad Classification of Regenerated Fibres,

3. Regenerated Cellulose Fibres

4. History of Regenerated Cellulose Fibres

5. Rayon Fibre Family (Nitrocellulose, Cuprammonium Rayon, Viscose Rayon)

6. Compositions and Chemical Structures of Rayon Fibres

7. Viscose Rayon Production Process

8. Properties and appearances

The Textile Fibre Family

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

(Based on Origin)

Plant Fibres, Ex: Cotton, Linen, etc.

Natural
Animal Fibres, Ex: Wool, Silk etc.
Fibre

Mineral Fibres, Ex: Glass etc.

Textile Fibre
Regenerated Cellulose Fibers, Ex: Viscose, Acetate, etc.
Regenerated Fibres
Regenerated Protein Fibers, Ex: Milk, Soyabean, etc.
Manmade
Synthetic Fibres Polyester
Fibre
Polyamide
Inorganic Fibres, Polyacrylonitrile
Ex: Carbon, Polyurethane
Metal, etc. And many more
 The Fibre Market

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Manmade Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Manmade Fibres:
- Fibrous materials produced from organic or inorganic raw materials through a chemical process.
- Organic Materials may be natural or synthetic, indicated primarily by the presence of Hydrocarbons in
chemical structure
- Chemical fibres are manufactured industrially in the form of filaments, staple fibres or filament yarns

Fibres from Natural polymers:

Natural polymers from various sources can be
dissolved in appropriate solvents, converted to
liquid and extruded to form filaments or staple Cellulose
fibres. Fibres made in this way are called

regenerated fibres.
Protein
Regenerated Cellulose Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

- Regenerated cellulose fiber is a type of manufactured or man-made fiber that uses cellulose (mainly
from wood or plant fibers) as a raw material.
- In was the first type of man-made fibre used in textile and apparel industry.

- During the early 1850s, it was called the “Artificial Silk” since the manufacturers hope to produce a
fibre to compete the original Silk fibre.

- The U.S. Department of Commerce later adopted the generic name “Rayon”, where the word “Ray”
represented the ray of light due to the brightness of the fibre and “On” was taken from “Cotton” due to
cotton-like properties
- The US Federal Trade Commission defined, “Rayon is a regenerated cellulosic Fiber whose polymer
chain contains at least 85% of the hydrogens of the hydroxyl groups”.
 Regenerated Cellulose Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

History

Robert Hook first First Commercial

suggested fibres could be regenerated cellulose was Cross and Bevan produced
made by forcing liquid developed by Chardonnet Viscose rayon route, while
through fine holes in his from nitrocellulose, after Topham experimented to
book Micrographia Schoenbein invented gun discover the essential steps
(inspired by silkworm 1883 cotton (nitrocellulose) in 1890 for making viscose rayon 1900
producing silk) 1846. for textile usage.

Sir Joseph Swan first Louis Henry Despeissis Courtauld got into the
1664 invented the method of
1800s 1884 discovered that cellulose 1892 viscose yarn making
dissolving nitrocellulose in dissolves in ammoniacal process
a solvent and forcing in copper hydroxide solution.
through a small hole in a Cuprammonium rayon
bath to form fibre was introduced

Silk was the luxury fibre that only the wealthy could afford
Rayon has a development history spanning over 100 years

More reading: “Handbook of Fibre Chemistry” Section: 10.4.2. HISTORY (Pages: 712 - 716)
Regenerated Cellulose Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

History

Swan developed a technique to force nitrocellulose

dissolved in acetic acid through a small hole into alcohol
and draw out a continuous filament of indefinite length.
The dried filaments were de-nitrated with ammonium
sulfide and the cellulose was regenerated.

The nitrocellulose based artificial silk was manufactured

by Chardonnet by extruding cellulose nitrate solution and
regeneration of cellulose by hydrolysis. This was also
called “Chardonnet Rayon”. However, there were a lot of
difficulties while controlling the reactions and also the
nitrocellulose was highly flammable. Dry spinning method
was used for the first time.
 History
Regenerated Cellulose Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

 History
Regenerated Cellulose Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Rayon Fibres Classification

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

(Based on fibre production method)
Formed by making alkali-cellulose;
not very environment friendly; 93%
of regenerated-cellulose market

5 major Viscose
Improved fibre properties over
viscose method

classes of Modal (Improved New generation rayon fibres;

version of Viscose) Environment-friendly
regenerated Lyocell
manufacturing process; Improved
properties; 5% of market
cellulose or Costly manufacturing due to high
Cuprammonium
cellulose- priced cotton cellulose and copper
salt; Not competitive to viscose;
Only a few manufacturers
derived fibres Acetate
Cellulose-derived fibre, formed by
acetylation of cellulose; Holds on
2% share of regenerated cellulose
fibre market
Viscose Rayon Fibre

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

The main problem with regenerated cellulose fibre was, finding suitable solvent that could readily dissolve
cellulose from various sources.

- Viscose is a route of dissolving cellulose from cotton or wood pulp as “Cellulose Xanthate”. Cellulose
xanthate is basically a derivative of cellulose, so viscose rayon process is called cellulose derivative method
- Two major chemicals used for this purpose are Alkali and Carbon Disulphide (CS2).

Or (C6H10O5)n

Cellulose Polymer Unit

Cellulose Structural Levels

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Cellulose occurs in all plants, but
not in pure form. It is accompanied
by other substances which
interfere with further processing
and must therefore be removed.
Cellulose Structural Levels

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

There are major 4 forms of cellulose, namely
Each form has a different
I. Cellulose I (Iα and Iβ) : Plants, Algae and Bacteria crystalline structure and
II. Cellulose II : Regenerated forms of cellulose hydrogen bonding pattern,
which affect their physical and
III. Cellulose III : Treating Cellulose I or II with amines chemical properties.
IV. Cellulose IV : Heating cellulose III at high temperature

According to the web search results, cellulose II of

Cellulose rayon fibre is formed of cellulose II,
viscose is more crystalline than cellulose I of
which is a crystalline form of cellulose that has
cotton. This is because cellulose II has a higher
different hydrogen bonding patterns than
degree of order and a more regular hydrogen
cellulose I, the natural form of cellulose. Cellulose
bonding network than cellulose I, which has a
II is produced by dissolving cellulose I in various
mixture of I alpha and I beta structures with
solvents and then regenerating it into fibres.
different orientations and conformations.
Cellulose I
Cellulose Structural Levels

Cellulose II

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Cellulose Structural Levels

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Hydrogen Bonding patterns are different
Viscose Insoluble
Cellulose

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Rayon Fibre
Manufacturing Flowchart
Soluble
derivative
Overview:
▪ Raw cellulose from wood pulp is
used as raw material
▪ This cellulose is insoluble because
of strong intermolecular bonds
▪ The Xanthation process creates a Recovery
derivative of cellulose, cellulose of
xanthate which can be dissolved in cellulose
alkali as fibre
▪ Ripening decomposes the
derivative
▪ Viscose spinning takes place in
acidic coagulation bath that
removes xanthate groups, leaving
the pure cellulose rayon fibres
Viscose Rayon Fibre

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

2 Steps for Cellulose Xanthate Formation

Step 1 Alkali Pre-Treatment and formation of Sodium Cellulosate

Viscose Rayon Fibre

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

2 Steps for Cellulose Xanthate Formation

Step 2 Reaction with CS2 to form soluble Cellulose Xanthate

More reading: “Chapter 4 - SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS: REGENERATED CELLULOSE FIBERS” Section: 4.2.2. Viscose Rayon Production
(Pages: 82-83)
Viscose Rayon Fibre

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Why Cellulose Xanthate?

Cellulose xanthate is soluble in alkali because it is a

salt of xanthic acid, which is a weak acid that can
be neutralized by alkali.
Pure cellulose is not soluble in alkali because it is a
polymer of glucose units linked by glycosidic
bonds, which are not affected by alkali.

Figure: Heated vessel for

xanthogenation (Ing. A.
Maurer SA, n.d.)
Conver ting Wood to Wood Pulp

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Contains Cellulose,
Wood Eucalyptus, Spruce, Beech, Hemicellulose and lignin
Hemlock, Slash Pine
Conver ting Wood to Wood Pulp

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

▪ A variety of dissolving-
grade wood pulps can be
used as the cellulose
source in viscose rayon
processes
▪ Wood pulp is usually
supplied as either bales of
pulp sheets or flock
(compressed bales of pulp
fibres)
Conver ting Wood to Wood Pulp

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

(Kraft Process)

Wood –to- wood chips

Conver ting Wood to Wood Pulp

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

(Kraft Process)
▪ Wood chips are cooked in a mixture of water, sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide under high
pressure to remove the lignin and separate the cellulose fibres. This is called the kraft pulping
process.
▪ Pulp is almost pure cellulose (main component of papermaking)
▪ It is the most widely used method cause it produces strong and high-quality pulp from a variety of
tree species.
▪ The process involves
▪ Kraft cooking: Wood chips cooked with water, NaOH, and sodium sulfide in digester. This
removes lignin and other impurities and forms white liquor. The part containing lignin goes out
as black liquor.
▪ Kraft washing and bleaching: The cooked pulp is washed and bleached to remove any
remaining impurities and increase brightness and purity.
▪ Kraft chemical recovery: The used chemicals are recovered and reused. This reduces the
environmental impact. Thus the black liquor is converted to green liquor and reused to make
white liquor.
Conver ting Wood to Wood Pulp

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

(Kraft Process)

https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=2Uh3XIadm1A
Conver ting Wood to Wood Pulp

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

More reading: For Wood to
pulp making: Book: “Fibres,
History, production,
properties, market”,
Chapter: Cellulosic
Manmade fibres, Section:
41.1.2 Raw Materials, Pulp
Production, Pages 834-837
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Steeping
✓ Wood pulp is steeped (soaked) in aqueous sodium hydroxide of about 18% concentration at
ambient or slightly higher temperature (~25°C)
✓ During steeping, alkali-soluble hemicelluloses are removed to an extent depending on the
process conditions.
✓ During steeping, the pulp swells as the alkali first is absorbed by capillary action and then
penetrates the fibers.

✓ An initial decrease in the average chain length (DP) is observed when pulp is steeped
✓ After steeping cycle, the liquid is drained while the swollen cellulose remains. It weighted
approximately 2.8 times the initial wood pulp.
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Shredding

✓ Pressing tends to compress the alkali cellulose that

then must be opened or fluffed to provide uniform
access to air and carbon disulfide later.
✓ Shredding involves separating pressed cellulose into
loose form called “crumb”.
✓ Time, temperature and mechanical process during
separating are important parameters to avoid
overpressing and underpressing.
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Aging
✓ The viscosity and final properties of the viscose depends on the cellulose chain length or
Degree of Polymerization (DP).
✓ Two reactions, hydrolysis and oxidation contribute to reducing the chain length. Oxidation
causes random cleaves of cellulose chain and hydrolysis attacks the end groups.
✓ The depolymerization can be accelerated by raising temperature or using catalysts like Fe,
Mn, etc.
 Aging
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Xanthation
✓ The soluble derivative, sodium cellulose xanthate (CX), is formed by reacting alkali cellulose
(AC) with CS2.

✓ Xanthation is normally conducted by placing alkali cellulose crumb in a reactor, pulling a

vacuum, and then introducing CS2.
✓ The reaction produces sodium cellulose xanthate and sodium hydroxide as by-products.
✓ However, the xanthation reaction is not complete and there are many side reactions that
produce sulfur-containing by-products, such as sodium sulfide (Na2S), sodium
trithiocarbonate (Na2CS3), and other minor compounds
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Mixing
✓ CX dissolves in dilute NaOH solution (5-8% concentration) to form a viscose solution, which is
a viscous yellow liquid.
✓ During this step, reactions of xanthation and by-product formation continue
✓ A low mixing temperature is preferred because this will minimize xanthate decomposition and
byproduct formation.

Filtration
✓ From the blender, the viscose is filtered in a number of steps to remove undissolved particles
and contaminants.
✓ The primary objective of filtration is to remove particles that would plug spinnerette holes and
cause fiber defects.
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Ripening
✓ Ripening is necessary in the preparation of a good spinning viscose and to obtain desired
rayon properties.
✓ The ripening process is important because it allows the CX molecules to rearrange and form
smaller aggregates, which improves the spinnability and uniformity of the viscose solution.
✓ The ripening process improves the fiber quality by increasing the degree of orientation and
crystallinity of the cellulose chains, which enhances the strength and luster of the fibers.
✓ Generally, the Xanthate decomposition, rexanthation and by-product formation is carried on.
Released or
repurposed

More studies: For Viscose production: Book: “Handbook of fibre chemistry”, Section: 10.4.4 CHEMISTRY OF VISCOSE RAYON
PROCESS, Pages 720-726
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Spinning
The precipitation bath
contains:
✓ In spinning, the I. Sulphuric Acid = 10%
alkaline viscose II. Sodium Sulphate = 18%
III. Zinc Sulphate = 1%
solution is exposed to IV. Glucose = 2%
an acidic spin-bath V. Water = 69%
under carefully
controlled conditions
to form filaments of
rayon.
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Greater area at
Spinning the opening
ensures
constant flow
or raw
material

Different
spinneret hole
shapes ensure
different cross
sections
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Spinning
✓ The sequence of physical and chemical transformations taking place at spinning is extremely
complex and still not fully characterized.
✓ The most important is the regeneration of cellulose with sulfuric acid by “splitting” the sodium
cellulose xanthate into cellulose, carbon disulfide and sodium sulfate.

✓ The by-products formed between CS2 and NaOH degrade to CS2, H2S and Na2SO4 at
spinning.
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Spinning
The presence of Zn:
✓ The presence of Zn helps to form more stable zinc xanthate which forms in the outer region which solidifies first
and the centre of filament forms, giving fibre a microlobal profile.
✓ The outer surface has more crystal structures compared to central part, caused by spontaneous cross-linking
with neighboring cellulosic unit providing greater orientation
✓ This cross-linking is also responsible for improved tensile strength. Thus, high concentration of zinc in spinning
bath can improve zinc strength.

The presence of Sodium Sulphate:

✓ The presence of this salt allows filament to shrink and precipitate by extracting water (~85%) from viscose
fibre.

The presence of Glucose:

✓ Provides softness to the formed filaments
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Spinning

Regeneration
starts at the outer
surface and slowly
penetrates the
core
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Drawing / Stretching
✓ Stretching helps to achieve acceptable mechanical properties by orienting the polymer chains to crystalline state.
✓ Unlike Polyester, cellulose is not thermoplastic, so it can only be stretched right after extrusion, when the
cellulose chains are not fixed.
✓ Stretching is typically applied by running the filaments over rollers where the take up rollers rotate at a higher
speed than the back rollers.
✓ This enables the final fixing of the fibre structure to take place while the fibre is held under tension in its state of
maximum orientation

More studies: For Spinning and Drawing: Book: “Regenerated Cellulose Fibres”, Chapter “The viscose process” 3.3 Spinning, Pages
50-53
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Drawing / Stretching

Drawing rollers

Spinneret
Filament bunch
drawing off
from acid bath

More studies: For Spinning and Drawing: Book: “Regenerated Cellulose Fibres”, Chapter “The viscose process” 3.3 Spinning, Pages
50-53
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Factors having influence on fibre proper ties

The fiber properties will depend on (a) how the cellulose molecules are arranged and
held together in the fiber and (b) the average size and size distribution of the molecules.

Dope Viscosity: Higher dope viscosity will result in a more stable extrusion of filament

Spinbath Zinc: Lower zinc will cause reduced cross-linking

among chains ending up with reduced strength

Spinbath Acid: Lower acid means higher regeneration

time and higher tenacity due to alignment

Salt Figure: A higher salt figure will take more time to regenerate allowing higher stretch,
means higher alignment anregenerated strength
Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Washing 1. Acid Wash = Further
regeneration of cellulose
2. Na2S / NaOH Wash = For
desulphurization, removal of
undissolved sulphur or
polysulphides
3. Water (Hot) Wash = Simple
wash (70°C) to remove alkali-
soluble contaminants
4. Bleaching Wash = H2O2,
NaOCL to improve purity,
The ideal situation is to use the smallest amount of wash liquor to brightness, and removal of
achieve convenient recovery of chemicals. After regeneration, the chlorine
fibre is contaminated principally with sulphuric acid, zinc sulphate, 5. Acid Water Wash = For
sodium sulphate, hydrogen sulphide and carbon sulphide as well correction of fiber pH and
as various by-products from the spinning reaction including dissolve residual zinc
sulphur and polysulphides. 6. Water Wash = To wash away
all the impurities
More studies: For Washing: Book: “Regenerated Cellulose Fibres”, Chapter “The viscose process” 3.3.6.6 Cutting and washing,
Pages 54-56
 Viscose Rayon Fibre Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

At a Glance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcxcPVX5ejY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVbjrgdY-9Y
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Classification of rayons Low wet modulus (LWM) rayon

Intermediate wet modulus (IWM)

rayon
Regular rayon
High wet modulus (HWM) / Modal
rayon
High-strength, high-elongation
Higher tenacity rayon (HSHE) rayons

Rayon
Polynosic rayon
Modified (special) rayons
Flame-retardant rayons

Cuprammonium rayon High absorbency (alloy rayons)

Hollow rayons
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Properties and appearance

The basic chemical unit of rayon is the anhydroglucose unit (AGU) of the cellulose molecule, characterized
by 1,4 β-glucosidic bond

The fibre is partially crystalline. Typically 3 types of morphological structure can be observed.
I. Lamellar Structure (Crystalline zones extending in the perpendicular direction to the fibre axis)
II. Micellar Structure (Broken up lamellae, increased dimension in fibre direction)
III. Fibrillar Structure (Elongated crystallites in fibre direction)
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Properties and appearance

▪ Fringe molecules connecting crystalline

regions is the mostly found structure
throughout the viscose fibers.
▪ The polymeric crystallinity proportion
differs between 24 ~ 30%
▪ Degree of Polymerisation: 250-450
glucose units
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Properties and appearance

The degree of polymerization keeps

decreasing as the steps progress
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Comparison with cotton

▪ Viscose has a much lower DP compared with cotton. Approximately 1/10th of cotton.
DP Cotton
DP Viscose
5000~10000
250~450 Units
Units

▪ Viscose has much lower crystallinity compared with cotton.

Viscose Cotton
30% Crystal + 70% Crystal +
70% Amorphous 30% Amorphous

▪ Viscose is much weaker compared with cotton.

Natural cotton being formed on Cellulose I; it is
stiffer and stronger than viscose.
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Comparison with cotton
• Dyes more readily than cotton, dye adsorption
and migration is swift compared with cotton
due to lower crystalline percentage.

• More flexible and drapes better.

• More lustrous.

• Not prone to gather static electric charge due

to moisture content.

• Like all other man-made fibres, the cross-

section, thickness, size, and length can be
controlled by manufacturers

• No additional waste like cotton, for example,

Neps, seeds, trash, foreign contamination, etc.
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Properties and appearance

The cross-section
resembles a
distorted circle or
multilobular
contour. The surface Porous and less
is smooth by dense core and
striated highly developed
longitudinally. This is and dense skin
because of
shrinkage it has to
undergo an acid
bath. It can be
bright, semi-dull, or
dull.
Figures: Cross-sectional and Figures: Core skin
Longitudinal views of viscose fibres morphology
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Mechanical Properties
▪ Tenacity and elongation are two main components that define the
fibres’ mechanical performance.
▪ Typically, viscose (1.2 g/den) is typically weaker than cotton (3.6
g/den), also it is much weaker in wet conditions (1.2 g/den) than dry
conditions (3.1 g/denier).
▪ Elongation is much higher for viscose (20-30%) compared to cotton
(7-14%).
▪ Elastic recovery is about 2%.
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Mechanical Properties

▪ Typically, proportion of crystal part is lower

for viscose.

▪ When water penetrates the fibre outer

surface, it causes the fibres to swell that
disrupts inter-fibril linkages.

▪ Viscose rayon fiber has a density of 1.52

g/cm3, higher than all other natural fibers
and also higher than most synthetic fibers.
Thus, fabrics made of pure rayon fiber are
usually heavier than those made of other
fibers at fixed fabric thickness.
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Absorption behaviour

▪ The hydroxyl (-OH) groups are present on the

viscose surface, since –OH groups attract water,
viscose attracts water on their surface.

▪ Moreover, cotton has much higher crystal regions

than viscose which should make it less penetrable for
water molecules.

▪ Overall, cotton is less absorbent than viscose.

▪ Viscose fibres’ moisture regain is 11-16% whereas

cotton has only 8.5%.
Viscose Rayon Fibres

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

Chemical Properties

The chemical structure is the same as cotton, but polymer chains are much shorter having a lower degree of
polymerization. Only 450 whereas cotton has 5000.

▪ Effect of Acid: They are damaged by strong acids and oxidizing agents but have moderate resistance to weak
acids and alkalis.

▪ Effect of Alkali: Viscose rayon has a high degree of resistance to dilute alkalis. Strong solutions of alkali cause
swelling, with loss of tensile strength.

▪ Effect of Bleach: Viscose rayon is sensitive to oxidizing agents. So the bleaching of rayon fabric may not always
be necessary before dyeing.

▪ Effect of Microorganisms: They have lower resistance to mildew, fungi, and insects than cotton, due to their
lower degree of crystallinity and polymerization.

▪ Dyes: They can be dyed with direct, vat, and sulphur dyes, as well as reactive and disperse dyes.
 Viscose Rayon Fibres Production

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

The market for viscose
production is dominated by
China (60% market share).
Rayon Fibres Consumption

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

China is the
largest consumer
with 51%

Global rayon fiber

consumption in 2009
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/
B978-1-84569-931-
4.00004-0
Viscose Rayon Application

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

I. Suitable for normal textiles, but not for high strength application like ropes, fishing nets, etc.
II. Can be easily blended with other natural fibres like cotton, flax, wool, etc.
III. Filament is used as
▪ Linings for jackets, suits, etc.
▪ Home furnishings, carpets, curtains, etc.
▪ Mattress covers
IV. Staple is used as
▪ Apparel (often blends)
▪ Nonwoven – disposables (wipes, nappys, etc.) and medical products.
But there is a Problem…
References

Prepared By: TANVIR MAHADY DIP, BANGLDESH UNIVERSITY OF TEXTILES

1. Fibres: History, Production, Properties, Market, Dieter Veit, (2022) Springer, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-
15309-9
2. Regenerated Cellulosic Fibers and Their Implications on Sustainability, Rana et al., (2014) from Book, “Roadmap to Sustainable
Textiles and Clothing”, Chapter 8, Springer, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-287-065-0_8
3. Regenerated cellulose in textiles: rayon, lyocell, modal and other fibres, Parajuli et al., (2021) from Book, “Fundamentals of
Natural Fibres and Textiles”, Chapter 4, Elsevier, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128214831000152
4. Physical structure and fibre properties, John Hearle (2001) from Book, “Regenerated Cellulose Fibres”, Chapter 8, Elsevier,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9781855734593500137?via%3Dihub
5. Handbook of Textile Fibres: Manmade Fibres, JG Cook (1984), Elsevier,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9781855734852/handbook-of-textile-fibres
6. The Viscose Process, AG Wilkes (2001) from Book, “Regenerated Cellulose Fibres”, Chapter 8, Elsevier,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9781855734593500083
7. Instructional Module on Synthetic Fiber Manufacturing, Weinberger et al. (1996)
8. Regenerated Cellulose Fibres, Richard Kotek (2006) from Book, “Handbook of Fibre Chemistry”, Chapter 10, Taylor and Francis,
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.1201/9781420015270/handbook-fiber-chemistry-menachem-lewin
9. Handbook of Textile Fibre Structure, Eichhorn et al. (2009), Elsevier,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9781845697303/handbook-of-textile-fibre-structure
10. Synthetic Textile Fibers: Regenerated Cellulose Fibers, J. Chen (2015) from Book, “Textiles and Fashion
11. Materials, Design and Technology”, Chapter 4, Elsevier,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9781845699314000040?via%3Dihub
12. A brief description of textile fibers, Y. Qin (2016), from Book, “Medical Textile Materials”, Elsevier,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780081006184000030?via%3Dihub
13. Notes from Dr. Abbas Uddin Shiyak Sir and Humayra Akhter Himu Madam