Manufacturing Possibilities of Silk Paper for Antique Fabric Conservation.

In this study, the conditions and results of silk fibre modification with the use of proteolytic enzymes are presented. Using the technique of scanning electron microscope (SEM), it was shown that the enzymatic treatment resulted in clear fibrillation of the silk fibre surface. The structural change in the surface of these fibres made it possible to process them by the paper-making method to obtain homogeneous pulp (65% silk and 35% linters) and thin sheets of silk paper with a basis weight of 25 g/m². It was concluded that the silk paper obtained corresponds to the needs of conservators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]