Definition

Noun: A chemical compound formed as a cellulose ester, specifically produced by reacting cellulose with caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and carbon disulfide. It is a key intermediate, soluble in dilute alkali, in the industrial production of viscose rayon and cellophane.

Usage

This is a technical, scientific term used primarily in chemistry and industrial manufacturing contexts. It refers to the specific chemical substance produced during the viscose process. - The factory produces cellulose xanthate as part of its rayon manufacturing. - The solution of cellulose xanthate in dilute sodium hydroxide is called viscose.

Advanced Usage

• As a Precursor Material: The term is almost exclusively used to describe the material state before its conversion into a final product like fiber or film.
  • The spinning of cellulose xanthate into an acid bath regenerates pure cellulose filaments.

Variants and Related Words

• Viscose: (noun) The viscous orange-brown solution formed by dissolving cellulose xanthate in dilute alkali. Often used synonymously with the process or the final rayon fiber.
• Rayon: (noun) A manufactured fiber made from regenerated cellulose, for which cellulose xanthate is the direct precursor.
• Cellophane: (noun) A thin, transparent sheet made from regenerated cellulose via the cellulose xanthate process.

Synonyms

• Cellulose dithiocarbonate (technical synonym)
• Viscose intermediate (functional descriptor)

Related Phrases / Compounds

• Viscose process: (noun phrase) The industrial method for producing rayon and cellophane, involving the creation and subsequent regeneration of cellulose xanthate.
  • The viscose process relies on the formation of cellulose xanthate to make cellulose soluble.

Noun

1. a cellulose ester obtained by treating cellulose with caustic soda