fibroin + sericin
ChemistrySilk is specified as fibroin + sericin. Density band ~1.34 g/cm³.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength44
Heat resistance30
Fire performance28
Insulation34
Workability60
Circularity50
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Silk non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: combustible protein. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Silk insulate?
Thermal mark 34/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: low.
What is the density band?
~1.34 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: China Neolithic / Silk Road (China).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 50/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
degrades; no thermoplastic melt
heat 30 · fire 28
What holds Silk together is not the nickname. Formula fibroin + sericin, density ~1.34 g/cm³.
Meters are atlas-relative. Grades are the SKUs buyers write.
Phases
Microstructure
OrderProcessing sets grain, crystallinity or fibre orientation — the reason two lots of Silk can test differently.
Interfaces
SurfacesCoatings, oxide films, sizings or paper faces often decide weather and fire behaviour more than the bulk brochure.
Defects
FlawsInclusions, voids, knots, pinholes or residual stress start the failures that mill certificates do not list.
Grades
VariantsSilk is a family. Grade names below are the ones buyers actually write on RFQs.
Ageing
TimeMoisture, UV, creep, hydrogen or carbonation shift properties in service. Design to the aged state.
Relative meters
Strength44
Strength is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Heat envelope30
Heat envelope is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Fire behaviour28
Fire behaviour is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Insulation34
Insulation is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Workability60
Workability is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Circularity50
Circularity is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Grades
Mulberry filament
Bombyx, degummed.Bombyx, degummed.
Tussah
Wild silk, tannin colour.Wild silk, tannin colour.
Eri
Ahimsa / spun silk.Ahimsa / spun silk.
Spun silk
Short fibre from waste.Short fibre from waste.
Weighted silk
Historic metal-salt scandal.Historic metal-salt scandal.
Bonds
Primary bonding
Silk holds together by covalent chain chemistry.
Secondary forces
Hydrogen bonds, van der Waals stacks or grain-boundary cohesion set toughness and moisture uptake.
Composites & fills
Fillers, fibres, plasticisers or aggregates are part of the real product, not impurities.
Environment film
Oxides, chars, sizings or paints are the layer the world actually meets.
Change the grade, the coating or the moisture and you have a different material with the same English name.
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