Heats of fusion of various amounts of absorbed water in wool keratin

Wool–water systems, at water contents above a threshold value of 22.7 g of water per 100 g of wool keratin, yielded curves of specific heat against temperature showing peaks that are ascribed to the fusion of the absorbed water. Integral and incremental heats of fusion were obtained. Integral heats increase as the square of the water content above the threshold, and incremental heats follow a linear relationship. The incremental heat reaches a value of 55 cal/absorbed water, at the saturation water content, at 0°C of 33.9 g of water per 100 g of keratin. The state of the absorbed water is discussed. Clustering of water molecules takes place only above the threshold water content.