Wrinkles

What is the source and uses of silk?

Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons.

What are the two sources of silk?

Biological source: The silk fibre is prepared from the cocoons of Bomyx mori Linn, commonly called the mulberry silk worm, and other species of bombyx and Antherae (Order- Lepidoptera). In India it is produced by A. mylitta and A. assama.

What is the source of silk thread?

In commercial use, silk is almost entirely limited to filaments from the cocoons of domesticated silkworms (caterpillars of several moth species belonging to the genus Bombyx). See also sericulture. Commercial silk is made from the fibrous cocoons of silkworm caterpillars (Bombyx species).

Which is the original source of silk?

China The production of silk originates in China in the Neolithic (Yangshao culture, 4th millennium BC). Silk remained confined to China until the Silk Road opened at some point during the later half of the first millennium BC. China maintained its virtual monopoly over silk production for another thousand years.

What is silkworm silk used for?

Silkworm silk can be broadly classified into two types: domesticated mulberry silk and wild non-mulberry silk. Silk has long been used, mainly as a textile fiber, and as biomedical sutures for decades. Over recent years, silk protein has gained importance in biomedical applications.

What are the sources of wool and silk?

Silk comes from silkworms and wool is obtained from sheep, goat and yak. Hence silk and wool are animal fibres. The hairs of camel, llama and alpaca are also processed to yield wool.

How do silkworms produce silk?

Silkworms produce their cocoons with silk threads. These threads are composed of sericin and fibroin proteins, which are produced in the silk gland and ejected through a spinneret at the larvae's head. One thread is selected from the cocoon and it is unraveled to create strands of silk fiber.

How is silk obtained from silkworms?

The caterpillar or silkworm spins the cocoon inside which develops the silk moth. The cocoons are kept under the sun or boiled or exposed to steam. The silk fibres separate out from the cocoon using special machines. This process is called reeling the silk.