The Effects of Hydrophobic Modifications on the Interaction of Human Hair with Water
September 2012
TLDR Hydrophobic modifications make human hair less affected by water.
This study explored the effects of hydrophobic modifications on the interaction of human hair with water, focusing on the thermal and mechanical properties of hair. It was based on the "internal plasticization hypothesis," which suggested that high glycine-tyrosine (HGT) proteins in hair have a specific plasticization effect in the matrix. The research involved hydrophobic modifications through esterification, which significantly altered the humidity-dependent glass transition of human hair. Additionally, the study examined the role of disulphide linkages in hair stability by reducing and methylating these linkages, and analyzed the resulting changes in thermal and mechanical properties. Initial findings from this second stage of investigation were reported.