Properties of Silk fiber | Silk fiber properties



Silk is a natural protein fiber. It is produced by the silkworm, which produces cocoons. The silk fiber is mainly of two types. i) Cultivated silk ii) Wild silk.  (Here mention that Cultivated silk is better than wild silk.)

The main properties of silk fiber are as follows:

1) Length: The length of silk fiber varies from 400 to 700 meters.
2) Fineness: Silk fibers are very fine fibers. Its fineness varies from 11 to 12 microns.
3) Cross-section: The cross-section of silk fiber is triangular.
4) Strength: The strength of silk fiber is reasonably good and its tenacity varies from 2.4 to 5.1 g/den.
5) Stretch and Elasticity: Silk fiber extensibility is 15% when at the break and recovery from stretch 90% when the extension is up to 2%.
6) Resiliency: Silk fiber resiliency is moderate.
7) Moisture regains: Moisture regain is about 11%.
8) Biological properties: Silk fiber is normally unaffected by fungus, moths, and insects.
9) Flammability: Silk burns slowly when in contact with a flam. Silk also has self-extinguishes.
10) Conductivity: Silk has a slow current and heat flow rate.
11) Uses: Silk is widely used all over the world. Silk is used for children's wear, Ladies' wear, Tie, Suits, etc. 

Silk fiber has some chemical properties

 1) Effect of Bleaches: Slik fiber damage with high concentrated bleaching agents. Hence perfectly white silk fabric is not seen.
2) Acid and alkali: Both acid and alkali damage silk fiber.
3) Effect of the organic solvent: Silk fiber is unaffected from the organic solvent.

4) Dye-ability: Silk fiber dyed at low temperature by direct, acid, basic vat dye, and Reactive dyes.



Post a Comment

0 Comments