title: Physical and mechanical properties of Tunisian women hair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Textile Engineering Laboratory of Iset Ksar Hellal, B.P. 68 Ksar Hellal 5070, Tunisia. chahida.sayahi@yahoo.fr.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Sayahi
authors: Textile Engineering Laboratory of Iset Ksar Hellal, B.P. 68 Ksar Hellal 5070, Tunisia.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Harizi
authors: Textile Engineering Laboratory of Iset Ksar Hellal, B.P. 68 Ksar Hellal 5070, Tunisia.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Msahli
authors: Textile Engineering Laboratory of Iset Ksar Hellal, B.P. 68 Ksar Hellal 5070, Tunisia.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Sakli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D013499:Surface Properties; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Tunisian women's hair; age; cross-sectional area; hair curliness; mechanical properties