Hair Is a Functionally Graded Composite, Not a Uniform Fiber

    July 2026 in “ arXiv (Cornell University) ”
    Andrew Schulz, Svetlana Griego, Vesna Šrot, Giulia Ballardini, Natalia Gonzalez-Vazquez, Devin Sheehan, F. Predel, Cem Balda Dayan, Deepti S. Philip, Helena Vrencev, Jelena Lazovic, Peter A. van Aken, Gunther Richter, Katherine J. Kuchenbecker
    TLDR Hair has varying structures and properties along its length.
    Recent research reveals that hair is not a uniform fiber but a functionally graded composite, with significant variations in mechanical properties and structure along its length. In domestic cats, three hierarchical structures—layered keratin walls, melanosome-like granules, and calcium enrichment—vary along body hairs and whiskers. These variations correlate with local mechanical properties, challenging the assumption of uniformity in hair. Prolonged chemical treatments can alter these structures, affecting hair integrity. This study highlights the complexity of hair's structure-function relationship, similar to observations in human hair.
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