There is a lot of artificial silk out there being sold at real silk prices. This is how to test for real silk:
The Burn Test
Pull out a loose thread from the silk product you're interested in. Now burn it.
What Should Happen:
- The thread should simply ball up and turn to ash when lit.
- The burning silk should smell like burning hair (both substances mainly consist of a fibrous protein – fibroin in the case of silk and keratin in the case of hair).
- The ash should be black and crispy/brittle.
- As soon as the flame is removed, the thread should do nothing more (no further burning)
What Should Not Happen:
Dead Giveaways to Artificial Silk
- The thread should not melt/bubble/drip when lit.
- The burning silk should not smell like burning paper (Rayon is a popular silk substitute, and like paper, mostly consists of cellulose).
- The ash should not be soft and chalky.
- The thread should not continue to burn after the flame is removed.
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