Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic or artificial fiber. Rayon is known by the names ''viscose rayon'' and ''art silk'' in the textile industry. It usually has a high luster quality giving it a bright sheen.

Uses

Some major rayon fiber uses include apparel (e.g. Aloha shirts, blouses, dresses, jackets, lingerie, linings, scarves, suits, neckties, hats, socks), the filling in Zippo lighters, furnishings (e.g. bedspreads, bedsheets, blankets, window treatments, upholstery, slipcovers), industrial uses (e.g. medical surgery products, non-woven products, tire cord), and other uses (e.g. yarn, feminine hygiene products, diapers, towels). Rayon is a major feedstock in the production of carbon fiber.

History

Nitrocellulose

The fact that nitrocellulose is soluble in organic solvents such as ether and acetone made it possible for Georges Audemars to develop the first "artificial silk" in about 1855, but his method was impractical for commercial use. Commercial production started in 1891, but the result was flammable and more expensive than acetate or cuprammonium rayon. Because of this, production was stopped before World War I. It was briefly known as "mother-in-law silk." Nathan Rosenstein invented the spunize process by which he turned rayon from a hard fiber to a fabric. This allowed rayon to become a popular raw material in textiles.

Acetate method

Paul Schützenberger discovered that cellulose could be reacted with acetic anhydride to form cellulose acetate. The triacetate is only soluble in chloroform making the method expensive. The discovery that hydrolyzed cellulose acetate is soluble in more polar solvents, like acetone, made production of cellulose acetate fibers cheap and efficient.

Cuprammonium method

The Swiss chemist Matthias Eduard Schweizer (1818-1860) discovered that tetraaminecopper dihydroxide could dissolve cellulose. Max Fremery and Johann Urban developed a method to produce carbon fibers for use in light bulbs in 1897. Production of rayon for textiles started in 1899 in the Vereinigte Glanzstoff Fabriken AG in Oberbruch. Improvement by the J. P. Bemberg AG in 1904 made the artificial silk a product comparable to real silk.

Viscose method

Finally, in 1894, English chemist Charles Frederick Cross, and his collaborators Edward John Bevan, and Clayton Beadle patented their artificial silk, which they named "viscose", because the reaction product of carbon disulfide and cellulose in basic conditions gave a highly viscous solution of xanthate. The first commercial viscose rayon was produced by the UK company Courtaulds Fibers in 1905. Avtex Fibers Incorporated began selling their formulation in the United States in 1910. The name "rayon" was adopted in 1924, with "viscose" being used for the viscous organic liquid used to make both rayon and cellophane. In Europe, though, the fabric itself became known as "viscose," which has been ruled an acceptable alternative term for rayon by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The method is able to use wood (cellulose and lignin) as a source of cellulose while the other methods need lignin-free cellulose as starting material. This makes it cheaper and therefore it was used on a larger scale than the other methods. Contamination of the waste water by carbon disulfide, lignin and the xanthates made this process detrimental to the environment. Rayon was only produced as a filament fiber until the 1930s when it was discovered that broken waste rayon could be used in staple fiber.

The physical properties of rayon were unchanged until the development of high-tenacity rayon in the 1940s. Further research and development led to the creation of high-wet-modulus rayon (HWM rayon) in the 1950s. Research in the UK was centred on the government-funded British Rayon Research Association.

Major fiber properties

Rayon is a versatile fiber and has the same comfort properties as natural fibers. It can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton and linen. The fibers are easily dyed in a wide range of colors. Rayon fabrics are soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent, but they do not insulate body heat, making them ideal for use in hot and humid climates. The highest quality Hawaiian shirts produced between the 1930s and the 1950s that are most sought after by collectors are all made of rayon.

The durability and appearance retention of regular rayon are low, especially when wet; also, rayon has the lowest elastic recovery of any fiber. However, HWM rayon is much stronger and exhibits higher durability and appearance retention. Recommended care for regular rayon is dry-cleaning only. HWM rayon can be machine washed.

Gallery of textures

Physical structure

Regular rayon has lengthwise lines called striations and its cross-section is an indented circular shape. The cross-sections of HWM and cupra rayon are rounder. Filament rayon yarns vary from 80 to 980 filaments per yarn and vary in size from 40 to 5000 denier. Staple fibers range from 1.5 to 15 denier and are mechanically or chemically crimped. Rayon fibers are naturally very bright, but the addition of delustering pigments cuts down on this natural brightness.

Production method

''Regular rayon'' (or ''viscose'') is the most widely produced form of rayon. This method of rayon production has been utilized since the early 1900s and it has the ability to produce either filament or staple fibers. The process is as follows:

#''Cellulose'': Production begins with processed cellulose #''Immersion'': The cellulose is dissolved in caustic soda: (C₆H₁₀O₅)_n + nNaOH → (C₆H₉O₄ONa)_n + nH₂O #''Pressing'': The solution is then pressed between rollers to remove excess liquid #''White Crumb'': The pressed sheets are crumbled or shredded to produce what is known as "white crumb" #''Aging'': The "white crumb" aged through exposure to oxygen #''Xanthation'': The aged "white crumb" is mixed with carbon disulfide in a process known as Xanthation, the aged alkali cellulose crumbs are placed in vats and are allowed to react with carbon disulfide under controlled temperature (20 to 30 °C) to form cellulose xanthate: (C₆H₉O₄ONa)_n + nCS₂ → (C₆H₉O₄O-SC-SNa)_n #''Yellow Crumb'': Xanthation changes the chemical makeup of the cellulose mixture and the resulting product is now called "yellow crumb" #''Viscose'': The "yellow crumb" is dissolved in a caustic solution to form viscose #''Ripening'': The viscose is set to stand for a period of time, allowing it to ripen: (C₆H₉O₄O-SC-SNa)_n + nH₂O → (C₆H₁₀O₅)_n + nCS₂ + nNaOH #''Filtering'': After ripening, the viscose is filtered to remove any undissolved particles #''Degassing'': Any bubbles of air are pressed from the viscose in a degassing process #''Extruding'': The viscose solution is extruded through a spinneret, which resembles a shower head with many small holes #''Acid Bath'': As the viscose exits the spinneret, it lands in a bath of sulfuric acid, resulting in the formation of rayon filaments: (C₆H₉O₄O-SC-SNa)_n + ½nH₂SO₄ → (C₆H₁₀O₅)_n + nCS₂ + ½nNa₂SO₄ #''Drawing'': The rayon filaments are stretched, known as drawing, to straighten out the fibers #''Washing'': The fibers are then washed to remove any residual chemicals #''Cutting'': If filament fibers are desired the process ends here. The filaments are cut down when producing staple fibers

''High wet modulus rayon (HWM)'' is a modified version of viscose that has a greater strength when wet. It also has the ability to be mercerized like cotton. HWM rayons are also known as "polynosic" or can be identified by the trade name Modal.

''High-tenacity rayon'' is another modified version of viscose that has almost twice the strength of HWM. This type of rayon is typically used for industrial purposes such as tire cord.

''Cupramonium rayon'' has properties similar to viscose but during production, the cellulose is combined with copper and ammonia (Schweizer's reagent). Due to the environmental effects of this production method, cupramonium rayon is no longer produced in the United States.

Disposal and biodegradability

The biodegradability of fibers in soil burial and sewage sludge was evaluated by Korean researchers who found that biodegradability decreased in the following order: rayon, cotton, acetate (meaning rayon decays more readily than cotton). The ability of individual rayon-based fabrics to repel water was negatively correlated with their speed of degradation (meaning the greater the water-repelling ability of the fibre, the slower it will decompose).

Alternative to cotton

Rising cotton prices in 2010 led clothing makers to begin replacing cotton with rayon in their fabrics. Designers such as Isaac Mizrahi have incorporated rayon into their newest designs. As demand for rayon increases, companies such as Fortress Paper have been investing in pulp mills to increase production. Rayon now sells for as much as $2.70 per pound, which has led to an increase in the retail price of clothing made with rayon, despite rayon's price advantage over cotton.

Controversies

Rayon has been accused by some as contributing to the destruction of rain forests. Although some of the trees destroyed in the world's rain forests might contribute to rayon production, targeting rayon itself is probably misplaced. Rayon production can come from a wide variety of trees and most of its yearly production comes from renewable trees.

In early 2010, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission warned several retailers that six major manufacturers were falsely labeling rayon products as "bamboo", in order to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. While rayon may be produced with bamboo as a raw material, and the two may be used for similar fabrics (though natural bamboo is not as smooth), rayon is so far removed from bamboo by chemical processing that the two are entirely separate.

Producers

Trade names are used within the rayon industry to determine the type of rayon used.

''Bemberg'', for example, is a trade name for cupramonium rayon developed by J. P. Bemberg that is now only produced in Italy due to United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations in the US.

''Modal'' and ''Tencel'' are widely used forms of rayon produced by Lenzing AG which is based in northern Austria. Tencel, generic name lyocell, is made by a slightly different solvent recovery process, and is considered a different fiber by the US FTC.

''Galaxy'', ''Danufil'', and ''Viloft'' are rayon brands produced by Kelheim Fibres, a German manufacturer.

Acordis is a major manufacturer of cellulose based fibers and yarns. Production facilities can be found throughout Europe, the U.S. and Brazil.

''Visil rayon'' is a flame retardant form of viscose which has silica embedded in the fiber during manufacturing.

North American Rayon Corporation of Tennessee produced viscose rayon until its closure in the year 2000.

Grasim of India is the largest producer of rayon in the world (claiming 24% market share). It has plants in Nagda, Kharach and Harihar – all in India, as well as joint ventures in Canada, Laos and China.

See also

Hilaire de Chardonnet

Further reading

For a description of the production method at a factory in Germany in World War II, see pages 152–155 of

Agnès Humbert, (tr. Barbara Mellor) ''Résistance: Memoirs of Occupied France'', London, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7475-9597-7 (American title: ''Resistance: A Frenchwoman's Journal of the War'', Bloomsbury, USA, 2008)

References

External links

History of Viscose Rayon and Artificial Silk

Cellulose Based Plastics: Celluloid and Rayon

Category:Organic polymers Category:Cellulose Category:Synthetic fibers Category:Silk Category:1891 introductions

ar:رايون ca:Raió cs:Viskózová vlákna de:Kunstseide es:Rayón eu:Rayon hi:रेयान id:Rayon it:Rayon (fibra) nl:Kunstzijde ja:レーヨン pl:Włókna wiskozowe pt:Raiom ru:Вискозное волокно fi:Viskoosi tl:Rayon war:Rayon zh:嫘縈

Name	William Baldé
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Mohamed Guy William Baldé
Origin	Guinea
Genre	Pop, Reggae
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, composer
Years active	1995–present
Website	Official site
Past members	}}

Mohamed Guy William Baldé, just known as William Baldé, is a singer-songwriter and composer born in Guinea. In 2008, he became famous with his album ''En corps étranger'' and his single "Rayon de soleil", number-one hit in France and Belgium.

Biography

William Baldé started his singing career with the afro soul band Yuba in which he sang in English. The group had a contract with EMI record company and released in 1995 a first album entitled ''Everybody Nyani''. Well received in the showbiz, Yuba opened the concerts of Jamiroquai and The Eagles, among other artists.

The soloist career of William Baldé started in the late 2007, when he was first part of the concerts of Christophe Maé, singing in front of a large audience (over 400,000). In June 2008, he released his first album ''En corps étranger'' and the summer hit "Rayon de soleil" which was a smash hit in France and Belgium (Wallonia). This single was followed by the second one from this album, ''Sweet Lady''.

Baldé is currently nominated for the 2009 NRJ Music Awards in the category 'French revelation of the year'.

Discography

Albums

{|class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2" width="33"|Year ! rowspan="2" width="150"|Title ! colspan="3"|Chart ! rowspan="2" width="150"|Certification (FR) |- !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|FR !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|BEL (WA) !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|SWI |- |2008 |''En corps étranger'' |align="center"|3 |align="center"|31 |align="center"|84 |align="center"|— |- |}

Singles

{|class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2" width="33"|Year ! rowspan="2" width="150"|Title ! colspan="4"|Chart ! rowspan="2" width="150"|Certification (FR) |- !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|FR !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|FR (DD) !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|BEL (WA) !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|SWI |- |align="center" rowspan="2"|2008 |"Rayon de soleil" |align="center"|1 |align="center"|2 |align="center"|1 |align="center"|24 |align="center"|— |- |"Sweet Lady" |align="center"|TBA |align="center"|TBA |align="center"|TBA |align="center"|TBA |align="center"|TBA |- |}

References

External links

Official site

Category:English-language singers of France Category:French male singers Category:French singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:Guinean emigrants to France

de:William Baldé fr:William Baldé

name	Amy Butler
irish	Éimí de Bhuitléir
birth place	Kilkenny, Ireland
sport	Camogie
code	Camogie
county	Kilkenny
province	Leinster
club	Mullinavat
clyears	2006-Present
clapps(points)	?
clposition	Centre half back
icyears	2006-Present
icapps(points)	?
counties	Kilkenny
icposition	Centre half back
clupdate	(16:31, 30 December 2009 (UTC))
icupdate	(16:31, 30 December 2009 (UTC)) }}

Amy Butler (born 1987) is a camogie player and an accountant, who played in the 2009 All Ireland camogie final. Amy is hoping to win her first All-Ireland medal with Kilkenny today, having collected a National League Division 1 title when Galway were defeated in the 2008 final. She also holds a Colleges Division 1 league medal from 2006. Her senior debut was in 2006.

References

External links

Official Camogie Website

Kilkenny Camogie Website

of 2009 championship in On The Ball Official Camogie Magazine

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/gaa_fixtures_camogie_oduffycup.html Fixtures and results] for the 2009 O'Duffy Cup

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship: Roll of Honour

Video highlights of 2009 championship Part One and part two

Video Highlights of 2009 All Ireland Senior Final

Report of All Ireland final in Irish Times Independent and Examiner

Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:People from County Kilkenny Category:Kilkenny camogie players