CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
January 22, 1940
Dr. Linus Pauling California Institute
Dear Professor Pauling:
As you know, we are beginning a rather comprehensive study of the problem of spinning
various native proteins from coagulating baths so as to obtain fibers of these materials
of maximum orientation for our x-ray investigations. The techniques will be similar
to those employed in the manufacture of rayon and other artificial fibers, but the
characteristic properties of each individual protein will doubtless require modifications
which must be determined by experiment. I hope that one of the results of our studies
may be a correlation between the physical and chemical properties of these substances
and the conditions best suited to the production of highly oriented fibers.
It seems evident that a solution of our problems will entail a rather comprehensive
program of work upon the methods and apparatus of spinning and their relation to molecular
orientation in a great variety of substances. The suggestion has been made that the
prosecution of this work might best be furthered by active cooperation with one of
the industrial laboratories concerned with the study and development of these techniques.
I am therefore bringing this matter to your attention in case you may consider it
worthwhile to look into the subject of the establishment of a fellowship or other
form of participation by an industrial laboratory interested in this line of investigation.
Very Sincerely,
Robert B. Coreyg
