ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the nanotribological and macromechanical property scenario of human hair, which is a cylindrically concentric polymeric nanocomposite biological fiber with a unique functionally graded hierarchical microstructure (FGM). The macrostructure of human hairs are typically comprised of micro and sub-microstructural elements such as the "α" helix, the cuticles, cuticle cells, and about fiveten scales thick cuticle layer. The cell membrane complex (CMC) itself is a lamellar structure. It consists of the inner β-layer, the δ-layer, and the outer β-layer. Recent, extensive work on the effect of ultra violet (UV) exposure has shown that the UV exposure causes marked degradation in the mechanical properties of human hair. The nanoindentation experiments conducted from cortex region to medulla region on cross sections of N, B, and C samples at an applied load of 10 mN gave the values of nanohardness and Young's modulus.
