| Abstract: | The optical properties of reconstituted collagen were characterized in the frame-work of a two-phase model. The total birefringence is assumed to be the sum of form birefringence ΔF, of amorphous birefringence Δa, and of crystalline birefringence Δc. The contribution of ΔF has been determined as a function of strain. The intrinsic values of Δc and Δa were calculated to be 0.24 ± 0.06 and 0.055 ± 0.018, respectively. In the undeformed state, the observed birefringence is almost entirely due to the distortion of the electric field of the light at the phase boundary. Whereas there is a slight increase of form birefringence with increasing strain, the total birefringence shows much larger increments. The latter is attributable to orientation of the rodlike superstructures of the tropocollagen molecules. |
