This research evaluated the effect of different methods (fillet skin removaland tanning methods [with or without chromium salts and bioleather])on leather resistance characteristics of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).Skin from 40 tilapias (450 g) were removed: 20 by pliers and 20 by machine.After skin tanning, the samples were removed for resistance tests, which weredone, in a climatized environment (23ºC) and 50% air relative humidity,with EMIC dynamometer, at removal speed of 100 ± 20 mm/mm. No effectof fillet skin removal method on progressive tearing and strength was observed.The method of skin removal by machine resulted in greater (88.48%) elongationthan that removed by pliers (71.09%). Skin tanned with chromium salts (25.54N/mm; 12.18N/mm2) had higher resistance than that tanned withoutchromium (bioleather) (13.11 N/mm; 9.89 N/mm2). Chromium-and bioleather tanned skins may be used in clothes manufacture sinceaverage values of strength, elongation and progresive tearing are higher than9.80N/mm², 60% and 14.72 N/mm, respectively, which are values recommendedfor leathers tanned with chromium salts.
