Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and liquid water makes it useful for food packaging. Cellophane is highly permeable to water vapour, but may be coated with nitrocellulose lacquer to prevent this.
Cellophane is also used in transparent pressure-sensitive tape, tubing, and many other similar applications.
Cellophane is compostable and biodegradable, and can be obtained from biomaterials.[1] The original production process uses carbon disulfide (CS2), which has been found to be highly toxic to workers.[2] The newer lyocell process can be used to produce cellulose film without involving carbon disulfide.[3]
"Cellophane" is a generic term in some countries,[4] while in other countries it is a registered trademark.
- ^ Morris, Barry A. (2017). "Commonly Used Resins and Substrates in Flexible Packaging". In William, Andrew (ed.). The Science and Technology of Flexible Packaging: Multilayer Films from Resin and Process to End Use. Vol. Plastics Design Library. doi:10.1016/C2013-0-00506-3. ISBN 978-0-323-24273-8. S2CID 251206014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
Cellophane is biosourced, compostable, and biodegradable.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Swan, Norman; Blanc, Paul (20 February 2017). "The health burden of viscose rayon". ABC Radio National.
- ^ "Cellulose Sausage Skins via the Lyocell Process". AZO Materials. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Has cellophane become a generic trademark?". genericides.org. Retrieved 29 April 2021.