A review of silk ageing : mechanism and stimulation methods

Abstract

Historical textile relics are the treasure of human yet suffered from serious ageing. The unearthed ancient textile products are being deformed and even beyond recognition. In order to preserve and understand the historical context of them, artificial ageing of silk textile is important as it provides artificial ageing experimental samples and help to explore the possible reasons for the degradation of ancient textiles. Hence, the particularity of silk and the threatening factors are introduced, mechanisms of ageing, includes physical, photochemical, thermal, chemical, mechanical and biological, are reviewed and the methods of stimulating the degradation, includes photochemical, thermal, hydrolytic and mechanical stress, are investigated.