Regenerated Cellulosic Fibers
(Viscose Rayon)
Week 08, Lectures 1-2-3
By
Dr. Arsalan Ahmed Sheikh
Topics Discussed
Regenerated fibers and modified regenerated fibers.
Different types of regenerated cellulosic fibers and chemical reactions
involved in the manufacturing of regenerated cellulosic fibers.
The manufacturing process of viscose rayon and unit operations
involved in its manufacturing.
Different properties of viscose rayon and its applications.
Regenerated Fibers
Regenerated fibers are those fibers which are created by dissolving the cellulose area of
plant fiber in chemicals and making it into fiber again.
Since it consists of cellulose like cotton and hemp, it is also called
"regenerated cellulose fiber."
Regenerated cellulose fiber has a smooth and lustrous appearance much like silk
(although it is chemically completely different), and the excellent water absorption
ability of cotton.
Sources of Cellulose
i. Seed hair
ii. Bast
iii. Leaf
iv. Grasses
v. Straw
vi. Bamboo etc
• Wood is most widely used of all cellulose materials.
Contents Percentage
Cellulose 40-50%
Lignin 20-30%
Hemicellulose 10-30%
• Polysaccharides are also present
• By removing lignin, hemicellulose etc., cellulose can be isolated
as a raw material.
• Plants which have no industrial utilization as well as the residual
waste from utilized plants form a huge potential source of
cellulose.
Solvents for cellulose
• Cellulose resist the action of all common solvents even at high
temperature for long time.
• A few solvents which will dissolve cellulose, and the cellulose can be
regenerated from these solution.
• These solvents are the copper amino hydroxides, the most important
of which are cuprammonium hydroxides or Schweitzer’s reagents.
cont…
• The amount of cellulose that can be dissolved is related directly with
the concentration of copper present in the reagent.
• Higher the concentration the more cellulose will be dissolved.
• Cuprammonium Cu(NH3)4(OH)2 is deep blue in color.
• Schwitzer reagent is used for manufacture of cuprammonium rayon.
Fiber regenerated from esterified
solution: Viscose Rayon
• Purified cellulose is mercerized with NaOH and
xanthated(usually refers to a salt of xanthic acid) with CS2
after which it is dissolved in NaOH to form spinning solution,
from which cellulose is regenerated by the action of acid.
Types of Regenerated Cellulose fibers
There are four major types of regenerated cellulose or cellulose-derived
fiber:
viscose
lyocell
cupro
acetate
Spinning Process
• The solution after filtration by
candle filter (f) is extruded (a) in
the coagulation bath (b) stretched
(c) and collected in the topham
box (d).
Manufacturing Process of Viscose Rayon
Physical Properties
1. Tenacity and Elongation
• Tenacity is about 2.6 gms/den
• wet strength is about 1.4 gms/den.
• Elongation at break (dry) is about 15% and (wet) 25%.
2. Moisture content
• Under standard conditions it is 11-13%
• At 20% R.H the moisture is 5%, 7.5 at 30% R.H, 10.5% at 50% R.H, 17% at 80% R.H and
22% at 90% R.H.
3. Absorbency
• Highly absorbent and takes up water readily without the aid of any wetting agent.
• 0.4-7.0% axial swelling occurs in normal viscose.
Presence of water increases the penetration of reagents, increase electrical conductivity,
reduce breaking strength, and changes other mechanical characteristics.
• Wet by all type of oil.
Physical Properties
4. Creep
• Elasticity isn’t high
• If stretched and then released from strain, it doesn’t return to its original length,
although for some time afterwards it continues to shrink but not completely and
called ‘delayed’ electricity’ ‘creep’ and ‘plasticity’.
5. Density
• 1.52gm/cc
6. Electrical Properties
• Owing to high moisture adsorption doesn’t have particularly well for insulation
• Good insulator in dry state not liable to develop static charges in textile working
Chemical Properties
1. Degradation
• Sensitive to the action of acid and also to oxidation cause
degradation
• Also degrade by oxidation through light
2. Effect of Light
• Have deteriorated effect
• Degradation take place on the surface exposed to sunlight
• Loses strength more in day light than UV light
3. Action of dry heat
• Rapid loss of strength under the influence of heat
• The quality index decrease as the temperature increases.
• Degradation of cellulose is slower in absence of O2
4. Action of acid
• Less resistant than cotton
• Organic acids can be safely used in 1-2% concentration without damage to fiber
• Inorganic acids can be in strong concentration at low temperature and brief treatment.
• At high temperature and high concentration all acids will destroy viscose rayon
• Acid tend to swelling of rayon filament
• Yarn become hard and brittle when contact with acid.
5. Action of oxidizing agent
• Peroxide can weaken this at 65°C so applied below 55°C for bleaching
• Reducing compounds form small quantities of hydrocellulose in yarn when treatment is
drastic.
6. Action of solvent
• Textile solvent can be safely used
• They are employed as spotting agents before or during scouring process
7. Action of Soap
• Ordinary soap has no direct effect
• Improper use of soap or poorly made soap result in rancidity and odour in fabric or yarn
8. Dyeing properties
• Viscose fiber dye readily with all dyestuffs which are substantive to cotton
• Dyeing should be carried out at low temperature, with the presence of retarding agents
and lower concentration of electrolytes for a good affinity and better exhaustion from the
dyebath.
8. Biological properties
• The influence of moths, mildew on viscose cause discoloration and stains in rayon
material.
• Effect the strength, dye-affinity and luster
• Dry viscose rayon is rarely attacked
• The presence of moths and mildews depend upon the type of warp size, temperature
and humidity of storage place.
Modification of Rayon
a) Addition of chemical modifies to produce high tenacity, carpet, and tenasco
type yarn and modified high wet modulus yarn
b) Low acid low-salt low-temperature bath polynosic and high wet modulus
yarn
c) Addition of formaldehyde – super high wet modulus yarn
cont
…
cont
…
• Different fibers will exhibit different types of
cross sections, depending upon the process
of fiber formation
• (a) regular rayon (b) high tenacity rayon
(c) crimped rayon (d) high wet modulur
rayon (e) straw like rayon
Thanks and have
great day
