Rayon (viscose)
Rayón (seda artificial)
- Date
- 1884–1892 · confidence high
- Place
- Coventry, England
- Credited to
- Charles Cross, Edward Bevan and Clayton Beadle (viscose, 1892); Hilaire de Chardonnet (nitrocellulose silk, Besançon, 1884); Courtaulds (production, 1905)
- People
- 👤 Charles Cross1891–1955👤 Clayton Beadle1868–1917👤 Hilaire de Chardonnet1839–1924
- Field
- Tools
What it is
First artificial fibre, regenerated cellulose spun as a continuous filament. It cheapened the sheen of silk and opened the way to synthetic fibres.
What it led to
- Mass fashion and affordable stockings
- Synthetic fibres (nylon, polyester)
- Textile chemical industry (Courtaulds, AKU)
Built on
Made possible
- Cellophane1908–1912
- Nylon1935–1939
- Rayon-corded tyres