!
"
#
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… On the outside of the wool ber there is a protecve layer of scales called cucle cells. They
overlap like les on a roof.
… The scales have a waxy coang chemically bound to the surface. This stops water penetrang
the ber but allows absorpon of water vapor. This makes wool water-repellent and resistant to
water-based stains.
Cuticle
&
'
Cortex
()*+,&'-.
(*+/+
./0
(/.(
)//0,1
/+
Cortical cell
(////1
)
()/)/
/1.
(),/
.
Macrobril
2/1/.
(///
//)1.
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#
Matrix
()1.(,
.
3'-1/
/1/.
(14+/+
.
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Microbril
3)////
.
(),/
////11/5).
(/.
&
'
Twisted molecular chain and helical coil
3/
/,1.
(**1
5)/,
/,+.
/0