Silk

Silk Fiber | Characteristics & Uses of Silk Fibre & Fabric in Textile

Silk is a natural fiber and an animal fiber too. Silk fiber was firstly produced in China and then the production of Silk worm extended to German, France, Turkey, Italy, India and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh & India, the Silk worm is called as Polo worm.

The research said- the half percent of total silk that are being produced in all over the world is still producing by China.
There are four steps for Silk worm to be grown from where we get the Silk fiber. The life cycle of Silk worm is as – 1. Egg, 2. Caterpillar or Larva, 3. Chrysalis or Pupa Stage, 4. Moth or Butterfly.

Characteristics of Silk Fiber:

Soft or Crisp Feeling: Silk fiber is quite soft and sometimes it feels crispy.
Luxurious: The clothes or apparels that are made from Silk are luxurious and simply expensive. Silk is widely used in Bangladesh & India to make the traditional silk Sharee that is worn in any kind of festivals or social programs.
Drapes Property is Good: Silk fiber is flexible enough and if silk fiber is used to make Silk garment than the fabric drapes well and this is why it can be tailored well too.
Silk Fiber Is Very Much Thin: Silk is the thinnest amongst all the natural fibers. As it is so much thinner fiber, so silk can be used on any kind of fabric or clothes to be made.
Dyeing Property is good on Silk: The average dyeing on Silk works good.
Prints Well: Due to the fiber’s flexibility and other convenience; the silk fabric can easily be printed without any problem.
Hand Washing & Dry Cleaning Is Possible: The washing fastness of silk fiber is good. One can wash the silk fabric by water and after washing the dry cleaning is possible too.
Silk Creates Static Charges:  The main problem of Silk fabric is that; silk creates static charges during wear or using any other purposes. In this case, silk fabric is little bit uncomfortable to use as the traditional dresses. For this reason we see; Silk is only used to make Sharee which is occasionally used by the women.
Silk has no pilling problem: Silk fabric has no pilling problem.
Abrasion Resistance Is Good: Silk fabric is good resistant to the abrasion.
Light Fastness Is Poor: The main disadvantages of silk fiber is that; if you keep the silk fabric for the long time under the sun, then there might have a chance to lose the natural appearance of the silk fabric. So, it’s better to stay away for prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Uses of Silk In Textile:

Silk fiber is widely used to make different items. In apparel industry Silk is used for making Dresses, Blouses, Skirts, Jackets, Pants, Scarves and ties.

Winter Silk | Silk Fibre

What is Silk Fiber?

Silk is a natural protein fibre. It is produced by the silk worm which produces cocoon. Silk fibre is extracted from cocoon. Silk are mainly two types i.e. cultivated silk and wild silk. Cultivated silk is better than wild silk. It also called Winter Silk.

Properties of Silk Fiber:

Main properties of silk fibre are as follows:
1. Length: Length of winter silk fibre varies from 400 to 700 meters.
2. Fineness: it is very fine fiber. Fineness varies from 11 to 12 microns.
3. Cross-section: silk fibers cross section is triangular.
4. Strength: Strength of silk fiber is reasonably good. Its tenacity varies from 2.4 to 5.1 g/den.
5. Stretch and Elasticity: Extensibility is 15% when at break. 6. Recovery from stretch is 90% when extension is up to 2%.
7. Resiliency: Resiliency is moderate.
8. Abrasion Resistance: Reasonably good.
9. Moisture Re4gain of Winter silk  fiber: 11%

Chemical Properties of Silk Fiber:

Effect of Bleaches: Damages by the effects of strong bleaching agents. Hence, perfectly whit silk fabric is not seen.
Effect of Acid and Alkali: Strong mineral acid damages silk fiber and strong alkali also damages silk.
Effect of organic solvent: Winter Silk is unaffected by the organic solvent hence dry cleaning is safe.
Dye Ability: Dyeing at low temperature by direct, acid, basic, vat and reactive dyes could be done.
Biological properties of Silk Fiber:  Normally unaffected by fungus, moths and insects.
Flammability: Burns slowly when contact with flame. It also self extinguishes.
Electrical and thermal conductivity: Heat and current flow rate is slow.

Uses of Silk Fiber in Textile:

Silk is widely used all over the world. It is used for children’s wear, ladies wear, tie, suits, Silk Sharee etc. The winter silk is used generally in winter.