15—a Review of the Mechanical Properties of Keratin Fibres

A brief summary of the structure of keratin fibres is followed by a review of their mechanical and allied properties. Among these properties are tensile stress–strain properties, stress relaxation, and creep, and torsional stress–strain properties and stress relaxation. The mechanism of supercontraction, properties of set fibres and disulphide-reduced fibres, and thermal transitions in keratin are also discussed. Finally, the various theoretical attempts that have been made to explain these properties are critically reviewed.