Soie — histoire, structure, propriétés et usages

Repères

Bombyx moriInsect

hundreds of metres/cocoonLength

Burns, little melt-dripFire

Mulberry sericultureIcon

high for a proteinModulus

textilesFamily

Soie 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 Soie 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.

Introduction approfondie

Deep dive: Soie

Soie (fibroin + sericin) is a family of grades whose density ~1.34 g/cm³, heat band degrades; no thermoplastic melt, and fire letter combustible protein.

What “the material” actually is

Soie 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 Soie as a system: mill route, coatings, tests and the cavity it sits in.

Heat, fire and insulation

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.

How it is made and used

Origin: China Neolithic / Soie Road, China. The process chapter follows feedstock → conversion → forming → finish → install.

Uses span buildings to defence / safety. Pairings matter: nylon.

Market and circularity

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.

Profil

Résistance 44

Résistance à la chaleur 30

Performance au feu 28

Isolation 34

Ouvrabilité 60

Circularité 50

Questions fréquentes

Is Soie non-combustible?

Declared reaction class in this atlas: combustible protein. Assemblies still need resistance tests.

Does Soie 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 / Soie Road (China).

Can it be recycled?

Circularity mark 50/100 — editorial, route-specific.

Typical melting or failure heat?

degrades; no thermoplastic melt

What should it be paired with?

nylon: The filament that stole stockings and chutes.

Where is it specified?

Buildings, transport, energy and consumer goods — see the uses chapter.

Icônes

Suzhou weaving

China · historic

Suzhou weaving is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

Lyon canuts

France · 19th c.

Lyon canuts is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

Kimono silk

Japan · historic

Kimono silk is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

Thai mudmee

Thailand · historic

Thai mudmee is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

Surgical silk

Global · 19th c.–

Surgical silk is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

Parachute canopy

Allied · WWII

Parachute canopy is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

Wild tussah

India / China · historic

Wild tussah is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

Hermès scarf lore

France · 20th c.

Hermès scarf lore is a reference point in the public image of Soie.

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