Yes, 100% silk does burn.
According to information on textile properties, silk burns, distinguishing it from other fabrics like satin which melts. This characteristic burning property is often used as a method to identify genuine silk.
Testing if Fabric is Real Silk by Burning
A common and practical way to determine if a fabric is real silk is to perform a burn test.
- Procedure: Carefully cut a small piece of the fabric. Using caution, bring a flame to the edge of the sample.
- Observation: Real silk will burn when exposed to a flame. The reference notes, "You can test if silk is real or fake by burning it. Simply cut a small section of the fabric and very carefully set it alight."
- Comparison: This is in contrast to fabrics like satin, which are often made from synthetic materials like polyester or nylon, that tend to melt rather than burn when exposed to heat. The reference explicitly states: "To put it simply: Silk burns and satin melts."
Understanding how silk reacts to heat is useful for fabric identification and care.
