A kilometre-class animal filament — luxury cloth, sutures and a template for bio-inspired fibres.
Also called: Bombyx mori filament · mulberry silk · protein filament
Silk is one of 32 materials in this atlas, grouped under textiles: history, structure, measured properties, process routes, uses, safety and market — not a product catalogue.
Scores compare Silk with the rest of the atlas on strength, heat, fire behaviour, insulation, workability and circularity. They are editorial, not certificates.
Seven chapters follow. Fire and insulation claims name test families (Euroclass, ASTM E84, ISO 5660, KS F) rather than inventing a single safety number.
Deep introduction
Silk (fibroin + sericin) is a family of grades whose density ~1.34 g/cm³, heat band degrades; no thermoplastic melt, and fire letter combustible protein.
Silk is sold as grades, not as a single substance. Chemistry fibroin + sericin, density ~1.34 g/cm³, heat band degrades; no thermoplastic melt.
This atlas treats Silk as a system: mill route, coatings, tests and the cavity it sits in.
Conductivity note: low. Insulation score 34/100 is relative to 32 entries — metals lose, VIPs and aerogels win.
Fire letter in editorial use: combustible protein. Do not equate A1 with “safe in a blaze” or E with “illegal”. Assemblies decide.
Origin: China Neolithic / Silk Road, China. The process chapter follows feedstock → conversion → forming → finish → install.
Uses span buildings to defence / safety. Pairings matter: nylon.
Producers below are landmarks, not an endorsement ranking. Prices are bands, not live quotes.
Circularity mark 50/100. Ask which scrap, which certificate, which year.
China · historic
Suzhou weaving is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
France · 19th c.
Lyon canuts is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
Japan · historic
Kimono silk is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
Thailand · historic
Thai mudmee is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
Global · 19th c.–
Surgical silk is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
Allied · WWII
Parachute canopy is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
India / China · historic
Wild tussah is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
France · 20th c.
Hermès scarf lore is a reference point in the public image of Silk.
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Closest neighbours on the six atlas axes — strength, heat, fire, insulation, workability and circularity.
Cis-1,4-polyisoprene from Hevea — tyres still drink most of the world’s latex.
Overall 44 🌱Seed-hair cellulose that dressed the industrial revolution — still the comfort fibre of daily wear.
Overall 44 🕯️Latent-heat packets that flatten temperature swings — not a substitute for λ insulation, a complement.
Overall 36 🎽The dominant apparel polymer — bottle-grade PET spun into staple that dries fast and sheds microfibres.
Overall 49Seed-hair cellulose that dressed the industrial revolution — still the comfort fibre of daily wear.
Overall 44 🐑Crimped keratin that traps still air — suiting, carpets and a quietly decent fire story among apparel fibres.
Overall 53 🎽The dominant apparel polymer — bottle-grade PET spun into staple that dries fast and sheds microfibres.
Overall 49 🪢Carothers’ polyamide — stockings, tyre cord, climbing rope and a melt-drip fire personality.
Overall 48 🦺Aromatic polyamide pulps and filaments — ballistic packs, hot-gas filtration and asbestos replacement.
Overall 62