EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON CERTAIN MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WOOL FIBER

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Abstract
Wool samples taken from sheep supplemented with dietary selenium were compared with wool from unsupplemented sheep. Fibers from the selenium-treated sheep contracted less (P <.01) in both length and diameter than those from the controls when treated in 50 per cent LiBr solution at 100 °C. for 3 hours. Probably the molecular structure of the selenium-treated fibers was modified by the formation of new (possibly selenium containing) cross-linkages between the peptide chains. The mechanical properties of the selenium wool fibers tested, i.e., dry tenacity, extension at break, and work required to break individual fibers, were not affected when compared with the controls.

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