what is art silk

Artificial silk, which is another name for art silk, is a man-made fiber that looks and feels like real silk. We can track the history of Art silk back to the late 1800s. Scientists wanted to make something that would be as luxurious as pure silk but cost less. Immortalized as the “father of rayon” (the first type of art silk), French chemist Hilaire de Chardonnet created the first artificial silk that worked well in the 1880s. It was produced by extruding cellulose through fine holes, creating a silk-like fiber.

A lot of people like natural silk because it is soft, shiny, and drapes smoothly. But artistic silk also has the same qualities as real silk, but the cost is indeed much lower than real silk. Therefore, although Artificial silk has a service life not as good as real silk, it still It is very popular with people, and as time goes by, the process of making Artificial silk has been continuously improved, and Artificial silk has become more durable.

How Art Silk is Made

Art silk, also known as artificial silk, is made from cellulose fibers like bamboo, cotton linters, and wood pulp rather than from silkworm cocoons like natural silk.

The main ingredients used to create art silk thread are:

– Cellulose fiber – Usually derived from bamboo, cotton linters, or wood pulp

– Chemical solvents – Used to dissolve the cellulose fibers

– Spinning machines – Used to extrude the dissolved fibers into threads

The production process involves several steps:

1. The cellulose source is processed into a purified cellulose fiber. This often involves bleaching and filtering the raw material.

2. The cellulose is dissolved in a chemical solvent to create a viscous solution called viscose. Common solvents include carbon disulfide, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide.

3. The viscose solution is extruded through spinneret nozzles into an acidic bath which causes the fibers to solidify into threads.

4. The threads are spun onto bobbins and undergo post-processing like washing and drying.

5. The finished art silk thread is woven into fabric.

What is the difference between art silk and real silk?

Some key differences are:

 Art silk is manmade, usually derived from synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester. Real silk is natural, made from the secretions of silkworms.

Producing art silk requires more intensive processing with chemicals and specialized equipment.

Natural silk production has a lower environmental impact compared to art silk which uses harsh solvents and generates more chemical waste

Texture – Art silk tends to have a coarser texture than real silk, though processing can make it feel soft and smooth. Real silk has an inherently fine, smooth, and luxurious texture.

Breathability – Real silk breathes very well, while art silk does not allow airflow as well through the fabric.

Durability – Real silk is extremely delicate and prone to tearing. Art silk is less fragile and more durable to wear and tear.

Cost – Art silk is far less expensive to produce than labor-intensive real silk. Real silk commands a higher price tag.

Care – Art silk is generally easier to care for, and sometimes machine washable. Real silk requires delicate hand washing or dry cleaning.

Is art silk a good material?

However, although the price of art silk is much lower than that of real silk, as people’s consumption concepts change, more and more people are paying attention to environmentally friendly and sustainable fabric materials. Compared with natural silk, is rayon Art Silk also a good choice? Let us analyze it together.

First of all, the advantage of Art Silk is that it is affordable, generally only about 10% of natural silk, has a smooth, light and soft feel, rich colors, is not easy to fade, has strong wrinkle resistance, is not easy to pill, and is very durable. This makes it ideal for use in everyday clothing and popular with consumers of all ages.

However, Art Silk also has some disadvantages. Its luster is not as natural and soft as natural silk, and its air permeability is poor, not as cool and breathable as natural silk. In addition, Art Silk is derived from petrochemical raw materials, which is relatively polluting during the production process, and is not as degradable and renewable as natural silk.

Overall, Art Silk is a cost-effective alternative fabric suitable for regular clothing. But if you want to pursue a softer and smoother feel, a more elegant and natural luster, and a more environmentally friendly and sustainable material, natural silk is still a better choice.