Rayon is a manufactured regenerated
cellulose fiber. It is made from purified
cellulose, primarily from
wood pulp, which is chemically converted into a soluble compound. It is then dissolved and forced through a
spinneret to produce filaments which are chemically solidified, resulting in synthetic fibers of nearly pure cellulose. Because rayon is manufactured from naturally occurring
polymers, it is considered a
semi-synthetic fiber. Specific types of rayon include
viscose,
modal and
lyocell, each of which differs in manufacturing process and properties of the finished product.