Rayon

Rayon, synthetic cottonlike fiber with a sheen. Patented in 1884 by the French inventor, Hilaire Chardonnet, it was named rayon in 1924. Rayon is produced from cellulose fiber of wood pulp or cotton. Chemicals reduce the cellulose to a thick liquid, which is forced under pressure into a metal spinneret and emerges as filaments. The filaments are twisted into silky yarn or cut and spun. Spun rayon can be treated to simulate wool, linen, or cotton. The 3 main processes for making rayon are viscose, cuprammonium, and acetate.