The objectives of this trial were to analyze the skin histology and to evaluate the influence of tanning technique and the direction removal of samples on skin quality of silver-plated carp (Hypophtalmichthys molitrix). Twenty-three fishes were sacrificed and the skin was removed for tanning. Samples of three fishes were settled in formol 10% and, after inclusion in paraffin, the samples were cut with approximately 5 mm of thickness and colored by the hematoxylin-eosin technique (HE). After skin tanning, the samples were removed for resistance tests. The tests were done with EMIC dynamometer, at removal speed of 100 ± 20 mm/mm, in a climatized environment (23ºC) and 50% air relative humidity for 24-h period. The skins tanned with chromium salts showed greater resistance to tensile strenght (16.96 N/mm²), elongation (51.49%) and progressive tearing (16.75 N/mm) than those tanned without chromium salts (tensile strenght = 9.12 N/mm², elongation = 17.48% and 11.36 progressive tearing = N/mm). No effect of direction removal of samples on tensile strenght, elongation, rupture load, progressive tearing, maximum force, and force load was observed. The tanning technique (with or without chromium salts) affect the resistance of the silver-plated carp skin. The technique with chromium salts results in bigger resistance to leather.
collagen fibers; fish skin; Hypophtalmichthys molitrix; leather quality; physical and mechanical tests
