Research on stretching of human hair treated with microwave low temperature plasma.

The possibility of using microwave low temperature plasma ( M L T P ) to treat the human hair and achieve the aim of stretching and slenderizing was studied. The parameters such as the moisture regain, electric discharge power, vacuum level, treating time of the MLTP were optimized. The results showed that the optimum treating process was the moisture regain 4. 2%, electric discharge power 50 W, vacuum level 30 Pa and treating time 10 min. The treated human hair under the optimum treating process with MLTP was stretched and slenderized, compared with untreated human hair, the breaking strength had no obvious change, elongation at break was decreased and initial modulus was increased slightly. The room temperature setting degree and boiling water setting degree were increased as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]