38--PHYSICAL CHANGES OCCURRING IN HEATED MAMMALIAN KERATIN.

An account is given of experiments in which samples of wool fibres were heated in an oven for various times, and at different temperatures, and examined in a scanning electron microscope. Samples were also subjected to the Allwörden test and to a dye-absorption test. It is shown that, on exposure to dry heat, wool fibres retain their physical shape and characteristics, even under severe conditions, the only major change initially being discoloration. Only at temperatures of 160°C and above are serious physical changes, such as scale deformation and changes in X-ray-diffraction patterns, observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]