Nanomechanical Characterization of Human Hair Using Nanoindentation and SEM
November 2005
in “
Ultramicroscopy
”
TLDR Human hair's strength and flexibility vary by ethnicity, damage, and treatment.
The study conducted a detailed nanomechanical characterization of human hair using nanoindentation and SEM, focusing on hardness, elastic modulus, and creep. It included samples from Caucasian, Asian, and African hair in various conditions (virgin, damaged, and treated). The findings revealed that the cuticle is about 5-7 scales thick, with each cuticle cell being 0.3-0.5 μm thick and 5-10 μm long. The study highlighted the potential of these techniques to evaluate the effects of cosmetic products, understand the physicochemical properties of biological fibers, and aid in diagnosing hair disorders.
