Silk fiber
The
word silk comes from ancient English: sioloc, from ancient Greek: σηρικός,
Romanized: serikos, "silken", finally compared from Asian sources
Mandarin s ī "silk". Silk is a natural protein fiber that we get from
insects that can be woven into textiles. Silk protein fibers are composed
primarily of fibroin and are produced by insect larvae specific to cocoon
formation. The most well-known silk captive mulberry silkworm Bombyx is found
in Mori's larvae cocoon.
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| Silk Yarn |
The shiny appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism structure of silk fiber
that allows the silk fabric to reflect the light coming from different angles
and produce different colors. Silk is produced by several insects but moth
caterpillar silks are used to make textiles. There have been some studies on
other types of silk, which differ at the molecular level. Silk is mainly
produced by the larvae of fully transformed insects, but some insects, such as
web spinners and raspy cricket, produce lifelong silk.
Silk
is also produced by Hymenoptera (bees, seeds, and ants), Silverfish, Mayflies,
Thrips, Leafhoppers, Beetles, Lacewings, Flies, Flies, and Midge. Other types
of arthropods produce silk, especially arachnids like spiders.
History of Silk
1st
Neolithic A silk production in China. During the last half of the first
millennium BC, the Silk was confined to China until the Silk Road reached some
stage. China has maintained a virtual monopoly on silk production for thousands
of years. Not limited to clothing, silk was also used for many more
applications, including writing, and the color of the silk worn was an
important guide to social class during the Tang Dynasty. Silk cultivation
spread to Japan around 300 AD and during Byzantine time silkworm eggs were
able to hatch and silkworm farming was started. The Arabs also started
producing silk at the same time. As a result of silk cultivation, Chinese silk
exports became less important even though they still dominated the luxury silk
market. The Crusades brought silk production to Western Europe, especially to
many Italian states, which saw the rest of Europe export silk economically. In
Europe, the silk industry was very much industrial changed at the time of the
revolution. Due to the innovation in spin cotton, cotton became much cheaper to
make and as a result, more expensive silk production became less mainstream.
New weaving technologies, however, have increased production efficiency. Among
these was the Jacquard loom, which was made for silk embroidery. Epidemic
production of several silkworm diseases declined, especially in France, where
the industry never recovered. In the twentieth century, Japan and China
regained their former role in silk production, and China is now again the
world's largest silk producer. The emergence of new fabrics like nylon has
reduced the prevalence of silk around the world and silk is now again a rare
luxury, much less important than its legacy.
Cultivation of Silk
Silk
moths lay their eggs mainly on prepared paper. The eggs hatch and the
caterpillars are fed high-quality mulberry leaves. After about 35 days and 4
hatchings, the caterpillars become 10,000 times heavier than the cubs and are
ready to start cutting a cocoon. A straw frame is placed on top of the
caterpillar tray and each caterpillar moves its head in a pattern and begins to
spin a cocoon. The two glands produce liquid silk and force it through the
opening of the head called spinnerets. Liquid silk is coated with sericin, a
water-soluble protective gum, and strong in contact with air. Within 2-3 days,
the caterpillar spins about a 1-mile filament and is completely enclosed in a
cocoon. Silk farmers heat the cocoons to kill them and turn some into insects
to breed the next generation of dry ones. The cut cocoons are boiled and the
silk fibers soaked in water hold the silk fibers together to form a cocoon. The
fibers are then unwrapped to form unbroken threads. Since the single thread is
very delicate and fragile for commercial use, a single thread of silk is made
anywhere from three to ten strands.
The yarn manufacturing process of Silk
The silk yarn manufacturing process manual is as follows-
1. Sericulture
The
cultivation of silkworms to produce silk is called sericulture. The best raw
silk is obtained from insects of the species Bombyx mori. Silkworms breed once
a year but can be kept up to three times a year under scientific conditions.
About 3 mm larvae emerge from the eggs. Female silkworms lay 300 to 500 eggs.
Silkmoth eggs form larvae or caterpillars known as silkworms. The larvae feed
on the leaves of the larvae. After growing several times, the silkworm pulls out a
silk fiber and forms a net to hold itself. It rotates to one side by itself in
the ‘8’ figure, distributing the saliva that will make the silk. Silk
solidifies when it comes in contact with air. The silkworm spins about a mile
of filament and in about two or three days completely encloses itself in a
cocoon. As a result, about 2,500 silkworms are needed to produce about one
thousand pounds of raw silk. Silk is obtained by brushing the useless cocoon to
find the outer edge of the filament. The filaments of silk are then wound into
a relay. A cocoon contains about 1000 yards of silk filament. At this stage,
this silk is called raw silk. A thread has 48 separate silk filaments.
2. Cocoon picking
The
cocoons are selected according to color, size, and texture, as they all affect
the final quality of the silk. Cuckoos can range from white or yellow to gray,
depending on the source and type of food when eating at the insect stage.
Cocoons from China are white, Japanese cocoons are creamy-white and yellow, and Italian cocoons are yellow.
3. Soften the sericin
After
the cocoons are picked the silk gum is called sericin, which cements the
filaments. The sericin is removed by placing the cocoon in hot water, which
frees the silk fibers and prepares them for reeling. This is known as the
degumming process. Immersion in hot water also kills silkmoth pupa.
4. Reeling
Reelings
can be achieved manually or automatically. The end of the cocoon fiber is
brushed to identify. The process is as simple as it is laborious. It is
threaded through a porcelain eyelet, and the fiber is reeled on a wheel.
Meanwhile, diligent operators check for filament errors as they are being
rebuilt. As soon as each filament is almost finished reeling, a new fiber is
twisted into it, creating a long, unbroken thread. Ceresin contributes to the
attachment of fibers to each other. The average cocoon reels about three
hundred yards away in a single thread.
5. Throwing
The
production of yarn from silk, known as throwing, involves adding a twist and
twisting these strands to the desired shape. The single filaments are joined
together to form a thread, which is drawn by pulling through several guides and
hitting the reels. Threads can be driven to make yarn. After drying, the raw
silk is packed according to the quality.
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