Artificially modified collagen fibril orientation affects leather tear strength.
Susyn J KellyHannah C WellsKatie H SizelandNigel KirbyRichard L EdmondsTim RyanAdrian HawleyStephen MudieRichard G HaverkampPublished in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture (2018)
The OI increased as a result of strain during tanning from 0.48 to 0.79 (P = 0.001) measured edge-on and the thickness-normalized tear strength increased from 27 to 43 N mm-1 (P < 0.001) after leather was strained 10% in two orthogonal directions. This is evidence to support a causal relationship between high OI (measured edge-on), highly influenced by thickness, and tear strength. It also provides a method to produce stronger leather. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.