Chemical and physical properties of old silk fabrics

Abstract

Amino acids recovered after standard hydrolysis are predictive indicators of the state of preservation of silk and provide a rapid method that can be applied to extremely small sample sizes. Biochemical data from 17 Japanese silk kimono lining fabrics are compared to previously reported data on occidental silks. The chemical and physical data from old silk fabrics are used to illustrate the connection between information gained from a microgram of sample required for amino acids analysis and the state of preservation. Comparison of the Japanese and occidental silk fabrics also provides insight into the effects that different methods of caringfor silk objects have on their longevity.