The Chemistry of Horse Hair
The interesting components of horse hair and how they all combine to make their hair just how it is.
Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components
Aspartic Acid C4H7NO4
Glutamic Acid C5H9NO4
The 2 main components in horse hair is keratin and amino acids. The amino acids and the keratin and create polypeptide chain to create each strand of hair. As these form naturally made by your body create either thick or thin hair. Each strand has a protective layer of keratin that creates a barrier from the outside weather. The final product of hair is not man made it is naturally occuring in nature. Chemistry's main role happens when the foal is forming in the mother at the late stages of development hair starts for be made as a product of the mother giving the amino acids and keratin to the child.
Horses have been used as social experiments and have been sent to slaughter hoses for the meat on their bones. Equine hair has been used for 19th century chairs or couches and paint brushes because of the coarseness/stiffness that makes a great calligraphy brush and it is used for clothes in switzerland. Now in modern times horse hair is used for bracelets and necklaces along with home decor. At one point on history horse hair was used for fishing lines.
About the Author
Ulrike Clarke is a junior at senior high school in billings mt. She enjoys Aquatics and Horseback riding with friends. Ulrike would like to go into beauty school to be a beautician. She is a smart girl who can do anything she puts her mind to. If she had a million dollars she would give it to horse sanctuaries around the U.S. and to her grandparents along with her mom and sister to thank them for all they have done to help her get through this crazy thing called life.