The history of acetate, specifically cellulose acetate, spans from isolated laboratory experiments to a modern global industry. This material is a synthetic polymer derived from cellulose, chemically modified with acetic acid. Its path to commercial viability required engineering innovations to transition it from a fragile compound into a stable, mass-produced plastic and fiber.
The Initial Chemical Discovery
The first creation of cellulose acetate occurred in the mid-19th century, existing purely as a chemical curiosity. French chemist Paul Schützenberger synthesized the compound around 1865 by reacting cellulose with acetic anhydride. This process involved substituting hydroxyl groups on the cellulose molecule with acetyl groups, creating the new ester compound. The result was a highly acetylated form of the polymer, later known as cellulose triacetate.
This early laboratory product was difficult to process due to its insolubility in common solvents. Later work by chemists Charles Frederick Cross and Edward John Bevan advanced the understanding of cellulose derivatives. They refined the process by introducing a partial hydrolysis step to create the more solvent-friendly cellulose diacetate. This modification proved crucial for later industrial scaling.
Transition to Industrial Material
Acetate became a commercially viable material in the early 20th century, driven by the entrepreneurial efforts of the Swiss brothers Camille and Henri Dreyfus. Starting around 1908, they developed a method to create a stable form that could be dissolved in acetone, making it suitable for manufacturing. By 1910, their work resulted in marketable products like lacquers and plastic film, leading them to establish a factory in Basel, Switzerland.
The biggest catalyst for industrial production was the outbreak of World War I, which created an urgent demand. The British government needed a non-flammable coating, known as “dope,” to waterproof military aircraft wings, replacing dangerously flammable cellulose nitrate dope. The Dreyfus brothers moved to England in 1916 and rapidly scaled up production of cellulose diacetate for this purpose.
This wartime necessity established the industrial foundation for acetate production. After the war, the collapse of military demand prompted the brothers to pivot their focus to textiles. They successfully developed the process for spinning the material into a continuous filament yarn, which they launched commercially in 1921 under the brand name “Celanese.”
Driving Applications of Cellulose Acetate
The first major market success for industrial acetate was its introduction as a safer alternative to the highly combustible cellulose nitrate. Cellulose nitrate film, also known as celluloid, posed a severe fire risk. Cellulose acetate film, or “safety film,” was developed to replace this volatile material.
This non-flammable film base was first employed commercially for photographic film as early as 1909 and gained widespread adoption throughout the 1920s. This included 16mm home movies and professional motion pictures. Simultaneously, the new acetate fiber became a popular textile, often marketed as “artificial silk” upon its commercial launch in the early 1920s. It offered a desirable drape and feel, distinguishing it from earlier synthetic fibers like rayon. Acetate was also used in early plastics for items like spectacle frames, tools, and appliance housings.