CTD 261 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Dry Cleaning, Japa, Sericin

• School: University of Alabama
• Department: Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design
• Course: CTD 261
• Professor: Amanda Thompson

Document Summary

Silkworm spins two filaments (brins) of a protein called fibroin embedded in a water soluble gum (sericin). Raw silk: has not had the gum removed. Each filament is about 1,000 meters in length, and only 12 microns in diameter. The denier of each filament is just above 1. 0 each strand is about 300 m long. Silk filaments are extruded in pairs, they are composed of fibroin, a protein polymer of amino acids. The filaments are cemented together with silk gum, sericin. This is a second polymer of protein, slightly different in composition than the fibroin. Scoured with warm water and mild soap. Reeling silk, filaments of silk are unwound from cocoons, single filaments. Hot water is used to soften the sericin. Dupioni silk: naturally thick and thin along length of the fiber provides slubs found in. Results from 2 caterpillars making 1 cocoon. Noils: broken filaments, can be silk waste.