MacLeod published 2 (I think) papers in J exp Biol in 1980, in one of
which he looked at water sorption (which he called "regain"). Fraser
and MacRae published some data in their review in the Mechanical
Properties of Biological Materials (SEB Symposium no. 34, 1980). I
can't remember seeing anything else on the topic.
Remember that water runs off a duck's back . . . feathers can be made
waterproof by oiling them during preening.
Ulrike Wegst wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> Thank you for the response to my earlier beta-keratin/feather question.
> I am now curious to find out more about the natural moisture content in
> feathers.
> How high is it? How quickly does it change? How much does it affect the
> mechanical properties of the beta-keratin: e.g. do birds fly differently
> in rain because the properties of the material changes? Are you aware
> of anybody, who has studied this?
>
> I am looking forward to hearing from you.
>
> Kind regards,
> Ulrike Wegst
>
> Dr. Ulrike G.K. Wegst
> Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung
> Heisenbergstr. 3
> D-70569 Stuttgart
> Germany
> Tel: +49(0)711-689-3423
> Tel: +49(0)711-689-3412
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> e
--
Julian FV Vincent [log in to unmask]
Professor of Biomimetics office 01225 386596
Centre for Biomimetics & Natural Technologies mobile 07941 933901
Dept of Mechanical Engineering fax 01225 386928
The University
BATH BA2 7AY
http://www.bath.ac.uk/Departments/Eng/biomimetics/
I hate quotations. Tell me what you know. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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