How is Silk fibre obtained from the Cocoon?

Question

Infinity Learn · Accepted Answer

Silk fibre is obtained from the cocoon by boiling the cocoons and carefully unwinding the silk threads from them in a process called reeling.

What is Silk?

Silk is a soft, shiny, and natural fibre made by silkworms. It is used to make clothes, sarees, curtains, and other expensive fabrics. Silk is known for its smooth texture and luxurious feel.

What is a Cocoon?

A cocoon is a protective covering spun by a silkworm around itself before becoming a moth. This covering is made up of a long thread of raw silk.

Steps to Obtain Silk Fibre from Cocoon

The complete process of obtaining silk from silkworms is called sericulture. It includes several steps:

1. Rearing of Silkworms

Silkworms are raised on mulberry leaves. These worms eat a lot and grow fast. When they are ready to become pupae, they spin a cocoon using a silk thread that comes out from their body.

2. Harvesting the Cocoons

After the silkworms spin the cocoons, they are collected carefully before the moths break out. This helps in keeping the silk thread long and unbroken.

3. Boiling the Cocoons

The cocoons are placed in hot water. Boiling softens the gum (sericin) that holds the silk threads together. This step kills the pupa and makes it easy to unwind the thread.

4. Reeling the Silk

Reeling is the process of unwinding the long silk threads from the boiled cocoons. These threads are collected onto spools. A single cocoon can produce a thread that is around 300 to 900 meters long.

5. Twisting and Weaving

Many threads are twisted together to make them stronger. These threads are then woven into cloth using looms.

Types of Silk

There are different types of silk produced from different silkworms. Some common types include:

Mulberry silk – the most common and high-quality silk
Tasar silk – made by wild silkworms
Eri silk – soft and warm, good for shawls
Muga silk – golden yellow silk from Assam, India

Why Silk is Expensive?

Silk is costly because the process of making it is long and needs care. Thousands of cocoons are required to make even one saree. The delicate nature of silk fibres also adds to its value.