Silk is a continuous, fine and lustrous fiber which for centuries has been considered the queen of fibers: in the past there were periods in which the silk, due to its rarity, was considered a luxury item highly prized.
Silk fibers have a triangular cross section with rounded corners. This reflects the light at different angles giving to silk a special glow.
It has a soft and smooth, not slippery, unlike synthetic fibers.
It brings together a unique combination of properties that do not have any other fiber: dry touch, natural glow, good moisture absorption, good falling qualities, high strength, hypoallergenic.
Silk is one of the strongest natural fibers but loses up to 20% of its strength when wet. It is said that a silken cord as thick as a pencil would be able to stop a Boeing 747 in flight.
Elasticity ranges from moderate to poor: if stretched beyond a certain limit of strength, it takes a while to regain his previous form.
It is a sensitive tissue to sunlight, being able to undermine its structure when exposed to to much sun. Is also particularly vulnerable to the action of insect , especially moths, if it is dirty.
Upon contact with the skin produces a warm feeling from the first moment, the fall is better than any other fiber, resists acids but not strong alkali: chlorine damages it, bleached with hydrogen peroxide.
Silk is a very durable natural tissue when properly cared.
