Cross was particularly interested in cellulose technology and in 1885 he went into partnership with a fellow chemist, called Edward Bevin. Together they established a firm of analytical and consulting chemists (based in London).
In 1892, Cross, Bevin and a new partner, Clayton Beadle, took out a patent for viscose that was to become the basis for the cellophane, rayon and viscose industries. Another patent was taken out in 1894 by Cross and Bevin for the manufacture of cellulose acetate, which was also an important product in the making of rayon and viscose. In 1904 the British firm of Courtauld obtained the 1892 patent, which soon led to Courtauld becoming the world's leader in the production of man-made fibres.
Sources:
- AFTALION, Fred (2001). A History of the International Chemical Industry, Philidelphia, MA: University of Pennsylvania Press, p. 74.
- ARMSTRONG, E. F. (1935). 'Charles Frederick Cross. 1855-1935,' Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society 1 (4): 458. Available here (retrieved 14th July 2015).
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 1st July 2016).
GVE