Premium
The sorption of water by dry keratin fibers in atmospheres above 90% R.H.
Author(s) -
Feughelman M.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1959.070020510
Subject(s) - sorption , moisture , humidity , materials science , matrix (chemical analysis) , fiber , composite material , phase (matter) , water vapor , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , chemistry , adsorption , organic chemistry , physics , engineering
Use is made of the basic concepts of a two‐phase model structure for keratin fibers, consisting of a water impenetrable phase embedded in a water penetrable matrix phase. The mechanism of water sorption of a dry fiber in liquid water or in a high humidity atmosphere is discussed. It is assumed that during moisture uptake the matrix goes into a sol‐state. Once moisture uptake is complete the matrix goes through a sol‐gel transformation. Both the torsional rigidity and longitudinal stress at low strain vary during the sorption process, and subsequently, in a manner compatible with this model.