Physical and mechanical properties of Tunisian women hair.

Abstract

Mechanical analysis of human hair may provide the dermatologists with several markers of considerable diagnostic importance. The aim of this study was to analyse the physical and mechanical properties of Tunisian women's hair. Surface characteristics were determined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties were studied using the Miniature Tensile Tester Model 675 (MTT675), and the Fibre Dimensional Analysis Unit Model 765 (FDAS765) of Dia-Stron, UK, was used to measure the cross-sectional area. The cross-sectional area, stress at break, strain at break, elastic modulus and total work were 4643.21 ± 817 μm(2) , 201 ± 11.26 MPa, 47.3 ± 3.6%, 3.1 ± 0.16 GPa, and 9 ± 2.2 mJ, respectively. The effects of the factors 'hair curliness' and 'age' on the physical and mechanical properties were studied. The cross-sectional area and the break load are influenced by the factors 'age' and 'curl type', whereas Young's modulus shows a significant dependency only on the age. Tunisian women hair presented good mechanical properties as shown by a greater breaking stress and higher breaking strain. Both curl type and age are important factors to consider when evaluating the behaviour of hair.