A study of the fundamental cause of artificial translucent areas in egg shells

Abstract

Damage to the surface of an egg shell, whether accidental or by a controlled force, can result in the subsequent development of an “artificial” translucent area. The original idea that this was the result of disturbance of the cuticle has been shown to be wrong. It has been found that (a) the age of the egg considerably influences both the formation of artificial translucence and the strength of the shell, (b) the less rigid the shell, the smaller is the force required to produce artificial translucence, and (c) the greater the force, the greater the width of the translucent area. These findings point to shell damage as the cause of artificial translucence and a system of cracks in the shell has been found to be associated with the translucence. The results have been discussed in the light of the composite structure of the egg shell.