Buildings
Structure, lining, insulation or finish depending on family.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength44
Heat resistance30
Fire performance28
Insulation34
Workability60
Circularity50
LessMore
Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Silk non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: combustible protein. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Silk 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 / Silk Road (China).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 50/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
degrades; no thermoplastic melt
heat 30 · fire 28
Silk earns its keep in systems: a beam, a batt, a fibre blend, a coated steel — rarely a lone coupon.
Products below are cultural landmarks as much as SKUs.
Sectors
Transport
Mass, fire and fatigue rewrite the grade list.
Energy
Heat, voltage and hydrogen compatibility.
Consumer
The volume that pays for the mill.
Medical / food
When allowed — extractables and allergies matter.
Defence / safety
Ballistics, FR clothing, fire stops.
Products
Suzhou weaving
historic
Lyon canuts
19th c.
Kimono silk
historic
Thai mudmee
historic
Surgical silk
19th c.–
Parachute canopy
WWII
Wild tussah
historic
Hermès scarf lore
20th c.
Pairings
nylon
The filament that stole stockings and chutes.
polyester
The cheap shine.
aramid
When tensile and fire beat luxury.
cotton
Staple cellulose everyday.
If the pairing is wrong, the material will be blamed for a system fault.
Keep exploring
More in Textiles
🌱
Cotton
Seed-hair cellulose that dressed the industrial revolution — still the comfort fibre of daily wear.
Overall 44 🐑Wool
Crimped keratin that traps still air — suiting, carpets and a quietly decent fire story among apparel fibres.
Overall 53 🎽Polyester
The dominant apparel polymer — bottle-grade PET spun into staple that dries fast and sheds microfibres.
Overall 49 🪢Nylon
Carothers’ polyamide — stockings, tyre cord, climbing rope and a melt-drip fire personality.
Overall 48 🦺Aramid
Aromatic polyamide pulps and filaments — ballistic packs, hot-gas filtration and asbestos replacement.
Overall 62