We know that silk was discovered in China and was kept a closely guarded secret for a long time. Fabric made from the silk were very costly. However, the beautiful texture of silk fascinated everybody attempts where made by the chemists to make artificial silk, and they were successful by the end of the nineteenth century. The product they developed is called rayon and has similar properties to the silk. The raw material for the production of rayon is pure cotton or wood cellulose. Rayon is sometimes called regenerated fibre, because it is produced by modifying the natural fibre. Rayon is not truly an artificial fibre because its raw material is a natural fibre. However for all practical purposes it is included in to man – made fibre or synthetic fibre.
Uses of Rayon:
The filament of rayon can be woven like any other natural fibre. They have a feel and texture of natural silk.
- Rayon filament are blended with wool in the manufacture of carpet
- Rayon filaments are blended with cotton to make smooth silk cloth which can be used for making bed sheets.
- Long filaments of rayon are used for making reinforced automobile tyres.
