What is imitation silk fabric?

What is imitation silk fabric?

Imitation silk is a fabric made from polyester fiber filaments that have undergone special processing and finishing techniques to achieve an appearance, shine, and texture similar to that of real silk.

The polyester fiber filaments of imitation silk undergo an alkaline reduction treatment, making the fibers finer and softer, achieving the effect of real silk. After finishing, friction between the fibers can also produce a silk-like rustling sound.

Identification of Imitation Silk

To identify imitation silk, you can burn the edge of the fabric. If it's real silk, you won't see an open flame, and it will have the smell of burning hair. The silk will turn into black particles that can be crushed by hand. In contrast, imitation silk will catch fire when ignited, and after the fire is extinguished, a hard plastic residue will remain on the edge.
Additionally, imitation silk fabric has a noticeable reflective appearance and is relatively lightweight. Real silk, on the other hand, has light-absorbing properties, appearing smooth but not mirror-like. The silk threads are relatively dense, and the higher the purity of the silk, the denser it is and the better the texture feels.