Silk surfacing explained

Silk surfacing was a surface finishing of cotton to obtain an appearance similar to silk.

Process

In contrast to other imitative finishes such as mercerizing, In Silk surfacing, real silk was used in this treatment. Cotton was treated with acid and then silk waste (mixed) solution cotton to provide a lustrous appearance.

Treatment

The steps are as follows:

1. Soaking of cotton yarns in Tannic acid or other metallic acid.
2. Soaking in a solution of pure silk (of dissolved Silk waste/remnants in some acid.)
3. Dry
4. Passing through rollers.

The cotton is encased with silk. Although the finish was less durable, was adapted for selected products only that were less likely to wash. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

See also

• Finishing (textiles)
• Plasma treatment (textiles)

Notes and References

1. Book: Thompson, Eliza Bailey. The Silk Department. 1918. Ronald Press Company. 82. en. Silk - surfacing is a method of treating cotton yarn to make it look like silk . This is done by soaking smooth cotton yarns in a solution of pure silk made by dissolving silk remnants .
2. Book: Nystrom, Paul Henry. Textiles. 1916. D. Appleton. 228. en.
3. Book: Department Store Merchandise Manuals. 1918. Ronald Press Company. 82. en.
4. Book: Aeronautics, United States National Advisory Committee for. Report - National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. 1927. U.S. Government Printing Office. 51. en.