Charles Frederick Cross
Encyclopedia
Charles Frederick Cross FRS
(December 11, 1855 – April 15, 1935) was a British chemist
.
Born in Brentford
, Middlesex
, his father was a schoolmaster turned soap manufacturer. After graduating from King's College London
, he went to Zurich Polytechnic and then, with his future partner, Edward John Bevan
, to Owens College, Manchester.
Cross who was interested in cellulose
technology and Bevan who had been a chemist at the Scottish papermaking firm of Alexander Cowan & Co. went into partnership in 1885 and set up as analytical and consulting chemists in New Court, Lincoln's Inn in London.
In 1888 they published what was to become a standard work on papermaking. In 1892, together with another partner, Clayton Beadle they took out a patent for Viscose
which became the basis for the viscose
, rayon
and cellophane
industries. In 1894 Cross and Bevan took out a patent for the manufacture of cellulose acetate
- this was to become the industrial process for its manufacture.
Cross was a recipient of the Perkin Medal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists. He was awarded the John Scott Medal in 1985. He died in 1935.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(December 11, 1855 – April 15, 1935) was a British chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
.
Born in Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, his father was a schoolmaster turned soap manufacturer. After graduating from King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, he went to Zurich Polytechnic and then, with his future partner, Edward John Bevan
Edward John Bevan
Edward John Bevan was an English chemist. He became a leader in the affairs of the Society of Public Analysts and editor of The Analyst....
, to Owens College, Manchester.
Cross who was interested in cellulose
Cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β linked D-glucose units....
technology and Bevan who had been a chemist at the Scottish papermaking firm of Alexander Cowan & Co. went into partnership in 1885 and set up as analytical and consulting chemists in New Court, Lincoln's Inn in London.
In 1888 they published what was to become a standard work on papermaking. In 1892, together with another partner, Clayton Beadle they took out a patent for Viscose
Viscose
Viscose is a viscous organic liquid used to make rayon and cellophane. Viscose is becoming synonymous with rayon, a soft material commonly used in shirts, shorts, coats, jackets, and other outer wear.-Manufacture:...
which became the basis for the viscose
Viscose
Viscose is a viscous organic liquid used to make rayon and cellophane. Viscose is becoming synonymous with rayon, a soft material commonly used in shirts, shorts, coats, jackets, and other outer wear.-Manufacture:...
, rayon
Rayon
Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic or artificial fiber. Rayon is known by the names viscose rayon and art silk in the textile industry...
and cellophane
Cellophane
Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria and water makes it useful for food packaging...
industries. In 1894 Cross and Bevan took out a patent for the manufacture of cellulose acetate
Acetate
An acetate is a derivative of acetic acid. This term includes salts and esters, as well as the anion found in solution. Most of the approximately 5 billion kilograms of acetic acid produced annually in industry are used in the production of acetates, which usually take the form of polymers. In...
- this was to become the industrial process for its manufacture.
Cross was a recipient of the Perkin Medal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists. He was awarded the John Scott Medal in 1985. He died in 1935.