The shrinkage temperature of native collagen fibers, particularly in skin, is around 60°C. At this temperature, collagen begins to undergo irreversible changes, including the denaturation of the triple-helix structure. This marks the transition of collagen from a functional biomolecule to a structurally weakened form.
Key Insights:
- At ( sim 60^circ C ), collagen fibers lose their natural integrity, which is significant in leather processing and other industries involving collagen-based materials.
- The shrinkage temperature is crucial in understanding collagen's behavior in various biological and industrial applications.