A NEW APPROACH TO COLLAGEN FIBER ORIENTATION IN COW SKIN BY THE MICROWAVE METHOD

The fiber orientation of cow leather sheets corresponding to the coriu m of the middle layer in the cow skin was studied by measuring the ang ular dependence of transmitted microwave intensity and the complex die lectric constant at a microwave frequency of 3.9 GHz. The direction of the minimum transmitted microwave intensity and the maximum dielectri c loss agrees with that of the maximum mechanical breaking strength, s uggesting that the collagen fibers constituting the cow leather should be preferably oriented in the direction of minimum transmitted microw aves and the maximum dielectric loss. The electron microphotograph sup ported this suggestion. The main chain direction of collagen fibers an d the degree of orientation varied from position to position in the sh eet. The present microwave method is convenient for quick determinatio n of the orientation of collagen fibers in the cow skin. It can be app lied non-destructively and contact-freely.