Abstract: This chapter deals with silk production and future trends in
natural silk manufacture, with special emphasis on different varieties
of silk, their general characteristics and production aspects. General
information on the micro and macro structure of silk and the composition
of amino acids is discussed. Detailed information on post-cocoon
technology operations, such as silk reeling, silk twisting, silk weaving, etc.,
has been included. A brief overview of the different stages of spun silk
production is also provided. Finally, future trends in silk production are
discussed, with respect to various silk producing countries, new avenues of
applications of silk and new silk products.
Key words: silk, mulberry silk, non-mulberry silk, silk production, postcocoon
technology, spun silk