Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine the physical properties of Nile tilapia skin (Oreochromis niloticus), tanned with vegetable tannin, with 23 factorial experiments. After the tanning process, nine samples obtained from different treatments were used for tests of tensile strength, elongation and progressive tearing tests. The resistance analysis of Nile tilapia leather was carried out with a complete factorial experimental design with three independent variables (% tannin, tanning duration and tannin type), evaluated at two levels (+ and -), totalling eight treatments. Tannin type was the most important variable that explained the resistance of Nile tilapia leather; the species Acacia mearnsii showed the best results in all tests. Tanning time of 4 hours also showed the highest values; whereas the percentage of tannin affected resistance independently of the amount used (8% and 12%).