A two-phase structure is proposed for keratin fibers consisting of a water-absorbing matrix M, in which non-water-absorbing cylinders of phase C are embedded. The cylinders of phase C are parallel to the fiber direction. The main assumption made is that only the mechanical moduli of phase M are affected by moisture uptake as long as the fiber is not stretched. On this basis, using the longitudinal and radial swelling data available, quantitative relationships between the dry and wet Young's Moduli and rigidity moduli were obtained which agreed with experimental results. Further, other physical observations were shown to be compatible with this model.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Algie, J., TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL29, 1-6 (1959).
2.
Algie, J. (private communication).
3.
Andrews, M.W. and Sikonki, J., Proc. Conference on Electron Microscopy , Stockholm, 300-303 (1956).
4.
Banky, E.C. and Slen, S.B., TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL26, 204-210 (1956).
5.
Bendit, E., Nature179, 535 (1957).
6.
Bendit, E., Feughelman, M., Fraser, R.D.B., and MacRae, T.P., TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL29, 284 (1959).
7.
Birbeck, M.S.C. and Mercer, E.H., J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol.3, 203-214 (1957).
Fraser, R.D.B. and MacRae, T.P., J. Chem. Phys.28, 1120-1125 (1958).
11.
Fraser, R. D. B. and MacRae, T. P. (private communication).
12.
Haly, A. R. (private communication).
13.
Jeffrey, G.M. , Sikorski, J., and Woods, H.J., TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL25, 714-722 (1955).
14.
Makinson, K. Rachel, Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 7, 336-347 (1954); 8, 275-287 (1955).
15.
Marsh, M.C. ahd Earp, Kathleen, Trans. Faraday Soc.29, 173 (1933).
16.
Mercer, E.H.TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL27, 860-866 (1957).
17.
Nicholls, C.H. and Speakman, J.B., J. Textile Inst. 46, T424-426 (1955).
18.
Rogers, G.E. , in "Summarised Proc. of Conference on Electron Microscopy of Fibres ," Challice, C. E. and Sikorski, J., Brit. J. Appl. Phys. 8, 1 ( 1957).
