Abstract

The first studies of the mechanical properties of layers through the thick ness of leather were published by J. A. Wilson’ in 1926. Since then, layer analysis has been confined to chemical determinations while physical research has concentrated on the variation of properties over the hide. In recent years R. G. Mitton and F. R. Morgan2have studied extensively the mechanical properties of fibres teased out of skin and leather. The general conclusions were that the fibre strength and breaking extension are almost unaffected by variations in the tanning process but that the overall effect of tannage manifests itself as a small loss in fibre strength and breaking extension. The large variation in physical properties from hide to hide, over the area of a single hide and according to the direction of sampling may, therefore, be considered to be related to the arrangement of fibres within the network rather than to the properties of fibres themselves. The present study comprises an investigation into the change of mech anical properties through the thickness of skin and leather and the correlation of this with chemical analysis and also with the fibre structure as viewed with a light microscope.