Specimen site and number of skins required to represent selected physical properties of ovine garment leather

Properties critical in the manufacture of garments from textile materials w ere measured on 158 ovine skins typical of those used in garment manufactur e, and the location from which properties of leather most represent those o f the whole skin identified. Mass, thickness, compression, bending and exte nsion under low loads (less than or equal to 100 gf/cm) were measured at be tween four and eight locations either side of the spine, and two directions (0 degrees and 90 degrees to the spine) on each skin. The most representat ive location was adjacent to the spine and in the middle of the skin, and w as similar to but larger than that recommended in existing standard test me thods for leather. Approximately 10 skins were required to estimate the pro perties of a batch of ovine garment leather.