Cupro Fibers

Cupro fiber, cellulose chemical structure. 

Cupro fibers, cellulose fiber obtained by the cuprammonium process. Cuprammonium rayon is a rayon fiber made from cellulose dissolved in cuprammonium solution. It is produced by making cellulose a soluble compound by combining it with copper and ammonia. The solution of this material in caustic soda is passed through a spinneret and the cellulose is regenerated in hardening baths that remove the copper and ammonia and neutralize the caustic soda. 

Cupro fabric. 

Cuprammonium rayon is usually made in fine filaments that are used in lightweight summer dresses and blouses, sometimes in combination with cotton to make textured fabrics with slubbed, uneven surfaces. The fabric may also be known as cupro or cupra. 

Cupro History 

Cuprammonium rayon was invented in 1890. 

Cupro Fabric Properties 

There are many properties of cuprammonium rayon: 

- The fibers are very fine It has a soft, silk-like handle (i.e., tactile feel). 

- It has similar properties to cotton. 

- It is different in that the average degree of polymerization is lower and a larger part of this fiber is occupied by amorphous regions, causing cuprammonium rayon to swell more. 

- It burns rapidly and chars at 180 °C. 

- On ignition, it leaves behind ash containing copper. 

- It can be used to create fabric that is sheer and lightweight and has desirable draping properties. 

Production 

Cellulose is dissolved in [Cu(NH3)4](OH)2 solution and then regenerated as rayon when extruded into sulfuric acid.