Kangaroo Leather Strength
KANGAROO LEATHER is widely accepted as being one of the strongest
light weight leathers available. Yet the reasons for this strength are
not widely appreciated.
Studies conducted by the Australian CSIRO confirm that kangaroo is one
of the strongest leathers of similar substance available (Stephens
1987).
Similarly when split into thinner substances kangaroo retains
considerably more of the original tensile strength of the unsplit
leather than does calf. When split to 20% of original thickness
kangaroo retains between 30 to 60% of the tensile strength of the
unsplit hide. Calf on the other hand split to 20% of original thickness
retains only 1-4% of original strength (Stephens 1987).
Studies of the morphology of kangaroo leather compared to bovine help explain these remarkable differences.
The collagen fibre bundles in cattle hide are arranged in a complex
weaving pattern. The fibres are often at angles as much as 90 degrees
to the skin surface. Cattle hide also contain sweat glands, erector
pili muscles and a distinct gradation in elastin levels, concentrated
in the upper part of the skin.
Kangaroo on the other hand has been shown to have a highly uniform
orientation of fibre bundles in parallel with the skin surface. It does
not contain sweat glands or erector pili muscles and elastin is evenly
distributed throughout the skin thickness (Bavinton et al 1987). This
structural uniformity explains both the greater tensile strength of the
whole leather and the greater retention of strength in splits. Bovine
skin is much more complex in cross section. Hence in whole section it
has many more weak point from which tears can start when placed under
tension. In addition when sliced into splits the collagen fibres
running at significant angles to the skin surface will be cut. These
then become weak points in the structural strength.
Thus the structural uniformity in the morphology of kangaroo leather
readily explains its dramatic strength and the retention of this
strength when split.
This uniformity requires efficient fat liquoring and staking to
obtain optimal results from processing. These processes have the effect
of unsticking fibre bundles from each other, thereby enabling each
bundle to move independently. Since kangaroo fibres are aligned
parallel to each other they contact other fibres along much of their
length. Bovine fibres on the other hand only contact other fibres at
the points where they intersect with them.
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Article Resource: http://www.kangaroo-industry.asn.au
