Subject
Silk
Wool
Composition
It has carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. It is attacked by carpet beetles.
It has hydrogen, carbon, sulphur and nitrogen. It is harmed by moths and beetles.
Elasticity
It has extended poly peptide chains and is less elastic and resilient.
It has folded poly-peptide chains and is more elastic and resilient.
Strength
It is very crystalline and is less absorbent.
It has more amorphous areas and more absorbent.
Dimensional
Stability
It is a solid fibre.
It has four parts in its fibre structure and therefore shrinks and felts.
Texture
It is smooth. White silk is smoother and more lustrous.
White wool fibre has crimp which is molecular. Therefore wool is warmer and more resilient.
Length
It is usually a filament and is smooth.
It is a staple fibre and is fuzzy.
Hydroscopic
nature
Since it has a very crystalline polymer system, it is less absorbent than wool.
It is more absorbent.
Thermal
properties
It is more sensitive to heat.
It is less sensitive to heat.
Effect of acids
It is degraded more than wool because of absence of disulphide bonds, perspiration which is acidic will cause breakdown of silk polymer.
It is degraded less than silk.
