The Application of Radiochemical Techniques to the Study of the Interaction of Hair Fibers with Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Radioactive tracer techniques have proved to be uniquely adaptable to the study of the inter action of hair fibers with various aqueous solutions including dye baths. NaBr solutions, NaBr- HBr solutions, NaCl solutions, and an acid dye bath containing a sulfur-labelled acid dye for wool were used. It was found that appreciable amounts of NaBr were absorbed by hair from solution with a linear relationship existing between the equilibrium amount absorbed and the molarity of the treating solution. If acidic or basic solutions were used, additional absorption resulting from the well-known amphoteric properties of keratin was observed. In a preliminary experiment, the absorption of each of three componen's of an acid dye bath was followed by taking advantage of differences in radioactive behavior of the three species. Certain rate processes have also been followed.