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Appearance of Fibers from Trichosurus vulpecula (Opossum)

Clothing and Textile Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

R.M. Laing

Clothing and Textile Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Samples of opossum fibers are examined using scanning electron microscopy to describe their appearance, including any visible damage that may have resulted from early processing. Variations in the surface morphology among individual fibers and along the length of a single fiber are observed. Even tile-like, rounded tile-like, wave-like, and cornet-like scales are present, most with smooth surfaces and smooth scale margins. The mean fiber length and diameter are 29 mm and 19.89 µm, respectively, and neither fiber length nor diameter seems related to scale type. Breaks accompanied by transverse and longitudinal cracking, fibrillar failure, buckling, and peeling back of scales are evident in fibers extracted by machine. No damage is visible on bleached fibers.

Textile Research Journal, Vol. 72, No. 3, 201-205 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/004051750207200303


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