Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet of regenerated cellulose valued for its low permeability to air, oils and bacteria, which makes it useful for food packaging, though it remains highly permeable to water vapor unless coated. The Swiss chemist Jacques E. Brandenberger invented cellophane in 1908 while working for a textile company, reportedly after being inspired by a wine-stained tablecloth, and patented his manufacturing process in 1912 following several years spent perfecting it. The film is made by dissolving cellulose from wood, cotton or hemp in alkali and carbon disulfide to form a viscose solution, then extruding it through a narrow slit into an acid bath that reconverts it into solid cellulose film, which is subsequently cleaned, bleached and softened with glycerin; beyond food wrapping, cellophane has also served as the backing for adhesive tapes such as Scotch Tape.
Facts
SignificanceCellophane's transparency let shoppers see the quality of the food inside its wrapping, and it played a crucial role in developing the self-service retailing of fresh meat, becoming significant enough commercially that by 1938 it represented a large share of DuPont's sales and profits. 1 FAQs
What is the story of the wine-stained tablecloth behind cellophane?
Brandenberger reportedly began his waterproof fabric experiments after wine stained a tablecloth; cellophane followed in 1908.
The popular account says that Jacques Brandenberger, a Swiss textile engineer, began experimenting with waterproof fabric after he saw a spilled glass of wine stain a tablecloth. The Science History Institute dates the invention of cellophane to 1908. The tablecloth detail is best read as a well-known origin story, since it is told in different ways and with different dates.
Connections
In Field
Source Cellophane - Wikipedia
Invented By
Source Jacques E. Brandenberger (National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee page)
Sources
1. Cellophane - Wikipedia
History section, Brandenberger
Cellophane was invented by Swiss chemist Jacques E. Brandenberger in 1908.
Significance/retailing section
played a crucial role in developing the self-service retailing of fresh meat
History
Cellophane was invented by Swiss chemist Jacques E. Brandenberger in 1908
- In Group: Synthetic Polymers and Polymerization Processes, lead sentence
In Field: Chemical Engineering, Introduction
Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose.
View the SourceJacques E. Brandenberger (National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee page)
Invented By: Jacques E. Brandenberger, Inductee pageQuote, Invented By: Jacques E. Brandenberger, Inductee page
Invented in 1908, cellophane came from Swiss chemist Jacques Brandenberger's desire to create a clear, flexible, waterproof film that could be applied to cloth.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.