Rayon, often dubbed the first “artificial silk,” emerged in the late 19th century as a revolutionary textile. To truly understand What Is Rayon, we need to delve into its origins and appreciate its significance in the world of fabrics. For centuries, humanity relied on natural fibers like linen, cotton, silk, and wool for clothing and textiles. While these materials served their purpose, they each came with drawbacks. Cotton and linen were prone to wrinkling, silk demanded delicate care and was expensive, and wool could shrink and be irritating to the skin. Until the advent of rayon, clothing manufacturers had no other options but to contend with these limitations.
The quest for an alternative to silk had been a long-standing ambition. Silk, a luxurious fiber produced by silkworms, was highly coveted but also costly and labor-intensive. Imagine needing around 5,000 silkworm cocoons to produce just one kilogram of silk! This explains its high price and spurred inventors to seek ways to replicate its desirable qualities without relying on silkworms. While attempts to transform mulberry leaves directly into silk-like material had consistently failed, the late 1800s witnessed a breakthrough.
At the Paris Exhibition of 1889, visitors were introduced to a fabric that mimicked the luxurious sheen and delicate texture of silk, yet possessed the washability of cotton. This marvel was the brainchild of Count Hilaire von Chardonnet. Inspired by his work with Louis Pasteur on silkworm diseases, Chardonnet conceived the idea of creating “artificial silk” using collodion. Collodion, a substance formed by dissolving nitrated cellulose, could be spun into fine threads. Chardonnet successfully wove these threads into fabric, marking a significant milestone. However, “Chardonnet silk,” as it was known, had a significant flaw: its high flammability, earning it the less-than-flattering nickname “mother-in-law silk” among factory workers.
Simultaneously, across the English Channel, scientists Charles Cross, Edward Bevan, and Clayton Beadle were exploring ways to improve paper and cotton thread production. Their experiments involved treating cellulose-rich materials with sodium hydroxide to extract cellulose. Intrigued by the possibilities of further chemical treatments, they discovered in 1892 that treating alkali cellulose with carbon disulfide resulted in an orange, grainy substance. This substance, when dissolved in water, formed a viscous solution they named “viscose.” While not ideal for paper making, this “viscose” exhibited remarkable properties when forced through tiny holes into an acid bath. It regenerated cellulose into fiber form, albeit with shorter glucose chains compared to natural cellulose. This regenerated cellulose fiber, initially termed “artificial silk,” was the precursor to what we now know as rayon.
In 1924, the DuPont Company began large-scale production of this regenerated cellulose fiber, marketing it under the name “rayon.” The textile industry and consumers enthusiastically embraced rayon, primarily because it was available at half the cost of natural silk. This affordability, coupled with its silk-like appearance and comfortable feel, propelled rayon into widespread use.
Today, rayon remains a popular textile choice for a variety of applications. It is commonly used in clothing, from dresses and blouses to linings, due to its smooth texture, breathability, and cool feel against the skin. Rayon is also found in household items like bed sheets, blankets, and upholstery, where its softness and drape are highly valued. Understanding what is rayon involves recognizing its historical context as the first successful manufactured fiber, its production process from cellulose, and its enduring appeal as a comfortable and versatile fabric.
