Hillaire Bernigaud, Compte de Chardonnet 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

In a magazine called Competition Science Vision we find a few details on the invention and innovation of synthetic fibers starting with -

 

Q - Why is Chardonnet silk not suitable for use as a fibre ?

 

A - Synthetic fibers have been produced since 1885, when the French Count Hilaire de Chardonnet received a patent for synthetic silk. The first step involved dissolving cellulose from wood pulp in HNO₃ to form cellulose nitrate. Anyone who has watched what happens when a flame is held close to a ping pong ball should understand that cellulose nitrate by itself is far too flammable to be used as a fibre.

 

Q - How did rayon come into being ?

 

A - In 1903 a process of treatment for cellulose from wood pulp was patented in the United Kingdom. It involved dissolving cellulose in a mixture of caustic soda and carbon disulphide, CS₂. The resulting viscous material was then extruded through small holes into a solution of H₂SO₄ to form a fibre which was sold under the name of Rayon.

 

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So there you have a bit of useless information on how synthetic cellulose fiber was invented and innovated to become the invention of Rayon.

 

 

 

 Rayon Viscose