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Reversible Supercontraction of β-Keratose

Nature volume 185, pages 176–177 (1960)Cite this article

Abstract

PEACOCK1 has examined the X-ray diffraction patterns from Lincoln wool supercontracted by oxidation in peracetic acid. An observation made by Whiteley2 using Alexander's3 peracetic acid–ammonia technique to separate the protein components in wool4 was that, following Supercontraction in peracetic acid, the fibres increase in length when the α- and γ-keratoses are dissolved out by the ammonia solution. Mercer found it possible to prepare a birefringent fibre from the protein extracted from wool by urea-reducer solutions which showed dimensional changes as the pH was altered5.

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References

  1. Peacock, N., M.Sc. thesis, University of Leeds (1952).

  2. Whiteley, K. J., Ph.D. thesis, University of Leeds (1959).

  3. Alexander, P., and Hudson, R. F., “Wool—its Chemistry and Physics”, 265 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1954).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomolecular Structure,

    F. G. E. PAUTARD

  2. Department of Textile Industries, The University, Leeds, 2

    P. T. SPEAKMAN

Authors
  1. F. G. E. PAUTARD
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  2. P. T. SPEAKMAN
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PAUTARD, F., SPEAKMAN, P. Reversible Supercontraction of β-Keratose. Nature 185, 176–177 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/185176a0

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