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Karnataka accounts for more than 50 percent of the country's total silk production
earlier, but during 2007-08 it came down to 45 percent.
The silk industry is giving employment to 63 lakh people in the country including 46 lakh
farmers, three lakh reelers and 14 lakh weavers.
Thus, there is considerable scope for stepping up production of raw silk in the country,
overcome the persistent conflict of interest between exporters of silk products and
6 January 14, 2023
producers of raw silk.
History of Sericulture
Historically, sericulture was introduced in China by Hoshomin, the Queen of
China.
For a long time, sericulture was considered to be a national secret by the
Chinese Government, and as an industry it was not known in other countries.
Sericulture was introduced in India 400 years back and the industry
flourished as an agro-industry giving employment to over 7.3 million people
in the Country.
Sericulture is an agro based cottage industry, which include three main activities
1.Production of quality seed,
2.Rearing of Silkworm and raising of cocoons for silk,
3.Reeling of cocoons and yield of silk.
Reeling of cocoons, which yield silk, is basically an industrial activity.
The cultivation of Mulberry, the leaves of which are used for feeding the silkworms,
rearing of silkworms for production of cocoons are indeed activities of agriculture
nature.
Naturally Sericulture involves agriculture and industry, therefore it is recognized as an
agro - industry.
What is silk ?
Naturally Silk is a Protein. Silk emitted by the silkworm consists of two
main
proteins, sericin and fibroin.
Fibroin being the structural centre of the silk, and sericin being the sticky
material surrounding it.
Fibroin is made up of the amino acids Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ala and forms beta
pleated sheets. Hydrogen bonds form between chains, and side chains form
above and below the plane of the hydrogen bond network.
The high proportion (50%) of glycine, which is a small amino acid, allows tight
packing and the fibers are strong and resistant to breaking.
The tensile strength is due to the many inter seeded hydrogen bonds, and when
stretched the force is applied to these numerous bonds and they do not
break.
• The shimmering appearance for which silk is prized comes from the fiber’s
triangular prism-like structure which allows silk cloth to refract incoming
light at different angles
• Silk fibers are very fine, about 10 nanometers (1/2500th of an inch) in
diameter
• Strong as steel in tensile strength, silk is the strongest natural fiber known to
man
• Silk is much lower in density compared to cotton, wool or nylon. It is,
therefore, highly moisture absorbent, able to absorb as much as a third of its
own weight in moisture without feeling damp
• A highly versatile fabric, silk has proven to be ideal for a variety of uses –
from formal wear to sleepwear, from parachutes to rugs, from medical
sutures to prosthetic arteries
• Silk has a miniscule percentage of the global textile fiber market – less than
0.2%. Yet the actual trading value of silk and silk products is in many
billions of dollars since the unit price for raw silk is roughly twenty times that
of raw cotton
• Current world silk production is estimated to be around 125,000 metric tons.
China produces about 80% of the world’s silk; and India over 10%
• Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan also have a significant
production of raw silk and silk yarn. Brazil is the only non-Asian country
that is a significant producer of raw silk or silk yarn
• United States is the largest silk importer in the world
Did we know ?
The journey from Silkworm egg to a matured larva in 25-28 days time gains 10,000
times of the weight of the egg…… which is highest in the Animal Kingdom.
The filament from one Mulberry Cocoon (Biv.) can be more than 1 kilometer.
1. Mulberry culture Morus alba.Lin.
2. Eri culture Kingdom : Plantae Eri Silk Culture
Phylum : Dichotilidanea Samia cynthia ricini
3. Tasar culture
Class :Monochlamydeae Kingdom : Animalia
4. Muga culture
Order : Unisexuales Phylum :Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Mulberry Silk Culture Family : Moraceae
Order : Lepidoptera
Bombyx mori. Lin. Species : Morus alba. Linn.
Family : Saturniidae
Kingdom : Animalia
Sub Family:Saturniinae
Phylum :Arthropoda
Ricinus communis.Linn. Genus : Samia
Class : Insecta
Kingdom : Plantae Species : Samia cynthia ricini
Order : Lepidoptera
Phylum : Dichotilidanea
Family : Bombycidae
Class :Monochlamydeae
Genus : Bombyx Order : Unisexuales
Species : Bombyx mori Family : Euphorbiaceae
Species : Ricinus communis.Linn.
Muga Silk Culture
Tasar Silk Culture Antheraea paphia
Antheraea assamensis
Kingdom : Animalia Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum :Arthropoda Phylum :Arthropoda
Class : Insecta Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Saturniidae
Family : Saturniidae
Sub Family:Saturniinae
Sub Family:Saturniinae
Genus : Antheraea
Genus : Antheraea
Species : Antheraea paphia
Species : Antheraea assamensis
2.Its low conductivity keeps warm air close to the skin during cold weather, Therefore It is
often used for clothing such as shirts, ties, blouses, formal dresses, high fashion clothes,
pyjamas, robes, dress suits, sun dresses and eastern folk costumes.
3.Silk's attractive lustre and drape makes it suitable for many furnishing applications. It is
used for wall coverings, window treatments (if blended with another fiber), rugs, bedding
and wall hangings
4.Silk has had many industrial and commercial uses, such as in parachutes, parachute cords,
tyres of racing cars, insulation coils for telephones, and artillery gunpowder bags, wireless
receivers, sieves for flour mills
6.silk underclothing is used for children and adults with eczema where it can significantly
reduce itch
7. New uses and manufacturing techniques have been found for silk for making everything
from disposable cups and holograms
Chemical properties/Identification of pure silk contents in silk fibers
S.No Nature of Test Observation Inference
1 Flame Test a) Burns slowly leaves a black residue which crimples easily
with fingers
b) Burnt hair smell Silk
2 Shirlastain “A” a) Slightly brownish orange Silk
b) Golden Brown Silk
c) Chestnut Brown Silk (Tassar)
d) Bright greenish yellow Acetate ( Rayons)
3 Nitric Acid (Conc.) Disintegrates & Dissolves Silk
4 HNo3 ( 70% Diluted) Fiber stains yellow Silk
5 H2So4 ( 80% Diluted) Disintegrates & Dissolves Silk
6 Hcl ( Concentrated) Dissolves Silk
7 NaOH (5% Boil) Dissolves slowly Silk
8 Millon’s Reagent Fiber stains red Silk
9 Glacial acetic acid No change Silk
10 Phenol (90%) a) No change Silk
b) Dissolves Nylon
11 Zinc chloride-Iodine Red to violet Rayon or cotton
12 Microscopic test a) Structure less fiber (rod shaped) Silk
b) Tape like flat double fiber with longitudinal striations
Tassar silk
Staining of fabrics and their removal
S.No Source of Stain Treatment
1 Blood Soak in warm water , sponge with a few drops of ammonia in 10cc of hydrogen peroxide, then launder
4 Coffee or tea Allow the fabric to dry, sponge with carbon tetrachloride. If stain remains, launder in hot water using small quantity of
hydrogen peroxide.
5 Cosmetics Dampen the stain and rub with bar soap, finally rinse and wash.
6 Ink or Lipstick Place the stain on paper towel facing down, sponge with dry cleaning solvent or alcohol. Avoid water until stain is removed ,
rinse and launder.
8 Cream ( Ice, milk) Sponge with carbon tetrachloride. Launder in hot water.
10 Fruit Juices Sponge with alkali and alcohol in equal proportions and launder.
11 Grease Apply face powder and place the stain facing down on paper towel and sponge with dry cleaning solvent, dampen slowly, rinse
and wash or launder.
12 Machine oil Cover the stain with an absorbent and slowly sponge, remove the trace with carbon tetrachloride, rinse and wash or launder.
13 Mud Allow to dry ,sponge with carbon tetrachloride, rinse and wash or launder.
14 Paint Rinse in warm water and launder, if stain remains , sponge with turpentine and kerosene, rinse and wash or launder.
17 Shoe Polish Remove the excess polish, sponge with liquid detergent , followed by solvent or rub with alcohol, rinse or launder.
18 Wine/Soft drinks Soak in cold water, then use liquid detergent, launder in hot water.