Electrical Conduction in Keratin

The increase in electrical conductivity of keratin fibers after the application of an abrupt change of the relative humidity from 0 → 90% RH has been examined as a function of time. A comparison of these results with regain vs. time, for the same experimental conditions, indicates that the water inside a fiber is not initially in a state which facilitates conduction. It is proposed that the slow rise of conductivity is due to the formation of a hydrogen bonded network which allows the passage of protons under the influence of the applied electric field.