What is silk
Natural silk is a protein, consisting of 97% of the amino acids, 3% waxes and fatty acids. It is extracted unwinding in a special process silkworm cocoons. To create a square meter of fabric takes about 3,000 cocoons. Thread can reach a length of 1200 m.
Silk thread is extremely strong in tension. The fabric of her hypoallergenic, hygroscopic, perfectly adjusts the heat exchange of the organism with the environment. Winter silk warm in the summer – not hot. Due to the structure of the silk fabric is beautiful shimmers, reflecting the light like a prism.
Silk obtained from the cocoon of wild silkworms is called Tussah silk.
What is faux silk
Rayon is a cotton fiber, treated with an iodine solution of sodium hydroxide. This treatment is called mercerizing. To give a special sheen mercerized fiber is passed through special rolls. The fabric is faux silk and durable, pleasant to the touch and looks like real silk, however, the composition is a cellulose.
Another type of fabric, which is called artificial silk – viscose. For its production of cotton fibers or comminuted wood is treated with a concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide. The obtained thick mass of yellowish color passed through the holes of very small diameter, resulting in a long fiber – based rayon fabric. Rayon fabric looks like silk, soft to the touch, wear-resistant, but less durable at high temperatures.
Wash articles made of viscose can be at a temperature not above 30 ° C, preferably by hand or in the washing machine in a gentle cycle.
Treatment of crushed wood-derived acetic acid to get acetate fibers. They are much more elastic viscose, and because products of acetate fabrics crease less, but when washed in hot water they form intractable creases. In addition, acetate fabric staticky.
What is synthetic silk
Synthetic silk thread is obtained by processing high-molecular compounds, which are based on coal, oil, natural gas. Thus obtained polyester and polyamide. Using special technology, it is possible to obtain a particularly durable materials, water and grease repellent fabric. Of course, they are not too similar to natural silk.
How to distinguish real silk
Products made of natural silk can't be cheap. If you burn natural silk thread, it will emit a smell of burning hair. Remaining after combustion of coal is easily pounded into dust. Thread artificial silk when burning emits a smell of paper, synthetic, burnt plastic. In addition, the edge of the fabric made of synthetic silk under the influence of fire melted.
Silk less wrinkled than artificial. It is possible to crease the fabric for a while, then inspect it, if the product is genuine, folds almost does not remain.