The Nature of Permanent Set in Keratin Fibers

It has been shown by Farnworth that permanent set of keratin fibers in water is mainly due to strong polar linkages formed during the setting process. In this paper these linkages are identified with the bonds broken in the second stage of supercon traction of a fiber in a concentrated lithium bromide solution. These bonds are probably formed by groups of cooperative hydrogen bonds which are closely associated in the keratin structure with a tyrosine residue.