Summary
Water sorption and dielectric properties of stratum corneum (human and guinea-pig) were measured in vitro in relation to relative humidity (RH). The dynamic viscoelastic properties of stratum corneum were also measured to investigate its plasticization mechanism.
The pliability of human stratum corneum increased rapidly above 60% RH. The water sorbed in human stratum corneum was found to be ‘bound water’ in the range 0-60% RH but to include ‘free water’ above 60% RH. In guinea-pig stratum corneum the same change occurred at 20% RH. Stratum corneum was plasticized with not only water but also alcohols and hydrogen-bond breakers such as lithium bromide and urea.
It is concluded that the plasticization of stratum corneum by water is caused by ‘free water’ which breaks hydrogen bonds in keratin.
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Takahashi, M., Kawasaki, K., Tanaka, M., Ohta, S., Tsuda, Y. (1981). The mechanism of stratum corneum plasticization with water. In: Marks, R., Payne, P.A. (eds) Bioengineering and the Skin. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7310-7_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7310-7_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7312-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7310-7
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