X-ray studies of the structure of hair, wool, and related fibres.- I. General

TLDR

X‑ray interference patterns have been observed in animal protein fibres such as hair, muscle, and wool, indicating that these fibres possess a crystalline structure. This study reports preliminary results from a broad X‑ray investigation of diverse protein fibres under varied conditions to better understand their structural complexity. The authors collected over a hundred copper‑K X‑ray photographs, using a 4 cm × 0.5 mm rectangular aperture and nickel‑foil filtering, with secondary slits to screen scattered rays.

Abstract

It is now some ten years since it was first realised that, in common with natural and artificial cellulose fibres, animal fibres with a protein basis are in many cases sufficiently crystalline to yield a pronounced interference figure when examined with monochromatic X-rays. Such “ X-ray fibre diagrams ” were reported in 1921 by HERZOG and JANCKE* for muscle, nerve, sinew, and hair, and in 1924 similar photographs from human hair were obtained by one of the present writers. From an X-ray examination of wool it was concluded by THREADGOLD that “ there is no evidence for assuming the wool fibres and yarns examined to have a crystalline structure,” but in 1927 EWLES and SPEAKMAN had already obtained wool interference figures precisely similar to those previously obtained from hair. The two last-named authors endeavoured to interpret their results in the light of certain physical properties, but it has since become clear that the problem of hair structure is sufficiently complex to necessitate an X-ray study of a wide range of materials under as great a variety of conditions as possible. The present communication is an account of the preliminary results of such an investigation. Over a hundred X-ray photographs have been taken, using copper K-radiation filtered of the MATHS FORMULA line by nickel foil about 1/100 mm. thick. The “ slit” was a rectangular aperture, 4 cm. x 0.5mm., the scattered rays from which were screened off in the usual manner by a secondary slit.