Reinforcement of vulnerable historic silk fabrics with bacterial cellulose film and its light aging behavior

► Bacterial cellulose was used to reinforce vulnerable historic silk fabrics. ► BC treated samples were exposed to UV irradiation to investigate the aging behavior. ► The status of silk fibers was characterized by SEM, ATR, XRD, TG and tensile tests. ► Mechanical property of silk samples was considerably improved. ► BC could be degraded with little damage to the original fibers.