Using Cellulose
Besides being extremely important to the natural world, cellulose is also extremely important to human beings. Being derived from cellulose cottons and woods, this compound benefits human beings in the most basic ways, like clothing and writing.
Cellulose can also be processed and chemically modified to make plastics, photographic film, and rayon. Cellulose derivatives can be used as adhesives, explosives, thickening agents in food, and moisture-proof coatings. Historically, cellulose made some of the first synthetic polymers like cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, and rayon.
Important cellulose derivatives (Cellulosics):
Cellulose nitrate was the first successful plastic made in 1869 by converting alcoholic cellulose into nitrate esters. Cellulose nitrate also helped the automotive industry, when lacquers were developed in the 1920s. Now, it is used in making toilet pieces, and other industrial items.
Cellulose acetate is formed by reacting cellulose, acetic acid, acetic anhydride and a catalyst, and was first available in the 1930s. It is used in making packaging materials, toys, tools, handles, electrical insulation and shields, and lenses and eyeglass frames. This is the cheapest raw material produced.
Ethyl cellulose is produced when alkali cellulose is treated with ethyl chloride or ethyl sulfate. This compound is used in making flashlight cases, fire extinguishers and electrical appliance parts. It is the lightest and the most expensive of the cellulosics.
Rayon was first commercially produced in 1884, for textile purposes, but was quickly taken off the market because it was so flammable. Now rayon is used in many of articles of clothing, and is the most useful fiber to human beings.
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