Fiber Base

Most man-made fibers are formed by forcing a syrupy substance (about the consistency of honey) through the tiny holes of a device called a spinneret In their original state, the fiber-forming substances exist as solids and there-fore must be first converted into a liquid state for extrusion. This is achieved by dissolving them in a solvent or melting them with heat. If they cannot be dissolved or melted directly, they must be chemically converted into soluble derivatives. The basic substance for the three cellulosic fibers (acetate, rayon, and triacetate) is cellulose, which comes from purified wood pulp. It can be dissolved for extrusion into fibers. The substances used in the production of the noncellulosic fibers generally are melted or chemically converted into a liquid state.