Application of Scanning Electron Microscope to Study on Microscopic Structure of Animal Hair

The surface and cross section of animal hairs were observed and compared by different methods of SEM specimen preparation.The results showed that real and vivid ultrastructure could be observed by using routine means for normal and clean hairs.While dirty and damaged hairs must be cleaned firstly to remove slipcover,then real structure could be showed.Of six kinds of specimen preparation methods,the best one was that hairs were firstly washed with detergent and then soaked in acetone for 4 hours combined with ultrasonic cleaning before being observed.