The α-β Transformation in Stretched Hair

Abstract

The interpretation of the x-ray diffraction diagram of hair, both natural and stretched, is considered, and attention is drawn to the importance of considering the amorphous as well as the crystalline parts of hair. Infrared spectra show that there is a mixture of a and β structures (folded and extended polypeptide chains, respectively) both in natural hair and in hair which has been extended 100%, and that the orientation of the β material, at least, is very imperfect. It is concluded that in such a system no simple relationship exists between the extension of the molecular chains on unfolding and the extension of the whole fiber.