The Relaxation of Stress in Wool Fibers

Abstract

A study of the decay of tension of Columbia 56's wool fibers maintained at constant tem perature and extension has been carried out in water, in solutions of sodium bisulfite of various concentrations, and in neutral salt solutions. The experimental results obtained in water are similar although not identical to the results previously found by Speakman and Shah for human hair. The rapid stress decay of stretched wool which occurs when sodium bisulfite is added appears to be due to a chemical reaction involving the cystine linkages. The rate becomes independent of bisulfite concentration at sufficiently high concentrations. A much slower but unexpectedly large stress decay occurs in the presence of neutral salts such as sodium chloride.