Abstract

The morphology of sheepskin splits was studied at the completion of the beamhouse processes and after a tanning procedure with glutaraldehyde had been effected. A selection of histological and microscopical methods was applied. The combination of Masson’s trichrome stain and differential-interference contrast microscopy resulted in an optical relief effect on the dermal fibre system. Using reflected light microscopy, the fibrous structure of the tanned splits could be examined directly, without requiring any form of histological processing. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated most appropriately, fibre bundle separation and splitting. The unit-fibre was defined, measuring 5 tm and being composed of numerous collagen fibrils. After tannage, the fibre bundles appeared densely packed with markedly reduced fibre bundle splitting.