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Deer leather: analysis of the microstructure affecting pebble
Author(s) -
Wells Hannah C,
Sizeland Katie H,
Cooper Sue M,
Kirby Nigel,
Hawley Adrian,
Mudie Stephen,
Haverkamp Richard G
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.8199
Subject(s) - pebble , materials science , microstructure , scanning electron microscope , small angle x ray scattering , composite material , scattering , biology , optics , physics , paleontology
BACKGROUND Deer leather has a characteristic pattern, referred to as ‘pebble’, which is accorded such importance that a lack of it renders a leather defective. Synchrotron‐based small‐angle X‐ray scattering ( SAXS ), ultrasonic imaging, scanning electron microscopy, and tear tests were used to investigate the structural characteristics of well‐pebbled and poorly pebbled cervine leathers. RESULTS Poorly pebbled leather has a less open structure in the upper grain region than well‐pebbled leather. The orientation index ( OI ) of leather with a poor pebble is less than that of the well‐pebbled leather, particularly in the corium. The tear strength is also less for the poorly pebbled leather. CONCLUSIONS The differences in structure between well‐ and poorly pebbled cervine leathers are not the same as the structural differences between tight and loose bovine leathers, to which they are sometimes compared. On the contrary, good pebble may reflect an internal structure similar to that of looseness. It is hoped that methods to prevent a reduction in pebbling during the processing of cervine leather may be developed by applying this knowledge of cervine leather's structural characteristics. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry