Mount Seena Public

School
Nagaripuram,Pathiriplala,Palakkad, Kerala 678642,
Ph: 0491-2873532, 2872086, Fax: 0491-2874320
Email:publicschool@mountseena.com, www.mountseena.com

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
XII
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT REPORT
2015-16

Topic:

Preparation of Rayon
Thread from Cotton and
Filter paper

Mount Seena Public School

Nagaripuram,Pathiriplala,Palakkad, Kerala 678642,
Ph: 0491-2873532, 2872086, Fax: 0491-2874320
Email:publicschool@mountseena.com, www.mountseena.com

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the work based on the project
entitled Preparation of Rayon thread from Cotton
and Filter paper is an authentic record done by
Anees K. M of class XII-B, under the guidance and
supervision of the concerned during the academic
year 2015-2016.

Teacher in charge:
Examiner:

Principal:

Acknowledgement

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mrs.

Latha Prakash, the principal, for giving me such a good
opportunity to do this wonderful project and gain a lot
of knowledge.
I would also like to convey my utmost gratitude to
my chemistry teachers Mr. Aboobakker Siddik T.M and
Mr. Suresh along with the lab assistant Mrs. Sreeja, for
their vital support, guidance and encouragement
without which this project would not have come forth.
I would like to acknowledge my debt to all my
friends, who have helped in one way or the other and
my parents, for their constant moral support and love.

Anees. K. M, XII -B

[1]

CONTENTS
1.Introduction
2-4
2.Objective.5
3.Materials and chemicals
required.6
4.Theory.7
5.Procedure...8
-9
6.Observations..1
0
7.Conclusion..1
1

8.Precautions.1
2
9.Bibliography..1
3

[2]

Introduction
For a very long period of human history, man depended
on natural elements to make fibers for clothing. These
were natural fibers. However, with the technological
advances many manmade synthetic fibers were
developed. Man-made fibers have two main categories:
One that are made from natural products (cellulosic
fibers) and the other that are synthesized from
chemical compounds (noncellulosic polymer fibers).

Rayon fiber is a natural-based material made from the

cellulose of wood pulp or cotton fiber. In fact, they are
made from reformed or regenerated cellulose. As such,
they are identified as regenerated cellulose fibers.

History of Rayon
The invention of rayon can be related to the invention
of an apparatus in 1840 that drew synthetic filaments
through small holes. In 1855, Georges Audemars, a
Swiss chemist, discovered how to make cellulose
nitrate. Later in 1884, Count Hilaire de Chardonnet
made the first manmade fibers from nitrocellulose. He
came to be known as the 'father of rayon'. He got the
original French patent and also won financial support
through which, he established the world's first rayon
factory. Subsequently, other scientists developed more
cost-effective ways of making many other types of
rayon.

[3]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officially

recognized manmade textile filaments in 1925 when it
allowed the use of the name, "rayon" for yarns obtained
from cellulose or its derivatives. Till now, it was known
as artificial or imitation silk. With the production and
types of manmade fibers increasing and given various

trademarks, the FTC again made a rule in 1937 that any

fiber or yarn produced chemically from cellulose must
be designated as rayon. However, confusion prevailed
among the masses because at least four different types
of rayon with some similar and some different
properties came into being. It was because of the fact
that there were basically two groups of rayon- one
consisting of regenerated pure cellulose and the other
of a cellulose compound. These different compositions
gave different properties. Therefore, in 1952, the FTC
ruled that there would be two categories of cellulose
fibers- rayon fiber (pure cellulose) and acetate fiber
(cellulose compound).
Advantages:
-

Viscose rayon is suitable for wide range of fabrics

from lightweight luxury types that drape well to
heavy, strong, durable types that are stiff and
crisp.

It can be dyed easily with all the dyes that take

on to cellulosic fibres.

It blends well with other fibres.

It is very absorbent.

It can be given a variety of finishes.

[4]

It can be laundered or dry-cleaned, depending on

the dye used
or the finish given.

It can be bleached with chlorine bleaches but

peroxide bleach is preferable.

Limitations:
Fibres are weaker than cotton and weaker still
when wet.
-

Abrasion resistance is poor.

Fabrics wrinkle easily because of the poor

resiliency of the fibres.

Fabrics have very poor dimensional stability due

to progressive shrinkage of the fibres.

Rayon is susceptible to mildew.

It is damaged more easily than cotton by mineral

acids.
-

Fabrics require low ironing temperature.

Disposal and biodegradability

The biodegradability of fibers in soil burial and sewage
sludge was evaluated by Korean researchers, and are
listed here in order of decreasing biodegradability:
rayon, cotton, acetate. The more water-repellent the
rayon-based fabric is, the more slowly it will
decompose. Silverfish can eat rayon.
A recent ocean survey found that rayon contributed to
56.9% of the total fibers found in deep ocean areas.

[5]

OBJECTIVE:

To Prepare Rayon Thread from

filter paper and cotton using
Cuprammonium process.

[6]

Materials and chemicals

required:

Conical flask (preferably 250 ml)

Funnel
Glass rod
Beaker (preferably 250 ml)
Water bath
Filter papers
Cotton
CuSO4 (about 20g)
NaOH solution
Liquor ammonia solution
Dilute H2SO4
Distilled H2O

[7
]

Theory
Rayon is a synthetic fiber produced from cellulose.
Developed in an attempt to produce silk chemically, it
was originally called artificial silk or wood silk. Rayon is
a regenerated fiber, because cellulose is converted to a
liquid compound and then back to cellulose in the form
of fiber.
Preparation of Cuprammonium Rayon: Cuprammonium
rayon is obtained by dissolving pieces of filter paper in
a deep blue solution containing tetra-ammine cupric
hydroxide. The latter is obtained from a solution of
copper sulphate. To it, NH4OH solution is added to
precipitate cupric hydroxide, which is then dissolved in
excess of NH4. Reactions:
CUSO4+ 2NH4OH Cu(OH)2+ (NH4)2S04 (Pale blue
precipitate)
Cu(OH)2 + 4NH4OH [Cu(NH3)4](0H)2 + 4H2O
[Cu(NH3)4](0H)2 + pieces of filter paper left for 1015 days give a viscous solution called VISCOSE.

[8]

PROCEDURE
To prepare cuprammonium rayon threads using cotton
and filter paper, we have followed the below given
methods:
1] Preparation of Schweitzers Solution
About 20g of crystalline CuSO4 was weighted in a clean
watch glass and dissolved in 100ml of water taken in a
beaker. To this, dilute NaOH solution was added slowly
with constant stirring to precipitate Cu(OH)2. The
precipitate was filtered and washed till it did not
indicate the presence of sulphate ions with BaCl2
solution. Then, the clean precipitate of Cu(OH)4 was
transferred to a 250ml beaker and 50ml of liquor
ammonia was added. Then, the precipitate got
dissolved and a deep blue solution of cuprammonium
hydroxide (Schweitzers Solution) was formed. This
solvent was used for dissolving the cellulosic materials
(cotton and filter paper).
2] Dissolving cellulose matter
About 1g of cotton was weighed and cut into small
pieces. These were added to Schweitzers Solution
prepared earlier, taken in a conical flask. The flask was
secured with a rubber stopper and allowed to stand for

4-5 days till all of the cotton got dissolved in it, forming
a viscous solution called Viscose.
The above procedure were repeated taking filter paper
(about 2g) in a separate conical flask to prepare its
viscous solution.

[9]

3] Formation of rayon filaments

The viscous solution was taken in a syringe. The nozzle
of the needle was dipped in dilute H2SO4 solution taken
in a wide mouth beaker. The viscous was squeezed into
the acid solution along with swirling the needle in the
acid. Long, dark blue filaments were formed in the acid
bath, which was left undisturbed for about 24 hours
until all the blue colour of the filaments got dissolved in
the acid, leaving the white rayon filaments behind. The
rayon filaments were the removed from the acid bath,
washed with water and dried by keeping them on a
filter paper. The procedure was repeated for the other
viscous prepared and similarly, rayon threads from the
other cellulosic material was obtained.

[10]

OBSERVATIONS

A. Using Cotton:
1. Weight of cotton taken
:
-----------------------2. Max. length of rayon filament obtained
-----------------------3. Weight of the rayon filament obtained
------------------------

B. Using filter paper:

:
:

1. Weight of filter paper taken

:
-----------------------2. Max. length of rayon filament obtained :
-----------------------3. Weight of rayon filament obtained
:
------------------------

[11]

CONCLUSION

The white, thin threads obtained in the acid bath,

which were obtained after keeping it for almost
24 hours, were Rayon threads.

[12]

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Addition of excess NH3 and NaOH should be
avoided.
2. Before taking the viscose in the syringe make sure
that it does not contain any particles of paper,
otherwise, it would clog the needle of the syringe.

3. Addition of NH3 should be done in a fume cupboard

and with extreme care. The fumes if inhaled may
cause giddiness.
4. Use a thick needle otherwise the fibers wont come
out.

[13]

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon
http://textileapex.blogspot.in/2015/01/advantagesdisadvantages-synthetic-fibres.html
http://www.teonline.com/knowledgecentre/manufacturing-process-rayon.html
http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/rayon.htm
http://projects.icbse.com/chemistry-299
Comprehensive Practical Chemistry - Class XII,
Lakshmi Publications (P) LTD.