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Title: GLUTARALDEHYDE-TANNED LEATHER TREATED WITH TOCOPHEROLS

Author
item Liu, Cheng Kung
item Latona, Nicholas - Nick
item Lee, Joseph - Joe

Submitted to: American Leather Chemists Association Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Liu, C., Latona, N.P., Lee, J. 2004. Glutaraldehyde-tanned leather treated with tocopherols [abstract]. Annual Meeting of the American Leather Chemists Association. Paper No. 13.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Non-chrome-tanned (chrome-free) leather has gradually gained commercial importance, particularly for automobile upholstery applications. UV and heat resistance are very important qualities for automobile applications. We have made efforts to develop an environmentally friendly finishing process that will improve the UV- and heat resistance of automobile upholstery leather. Tocopherols are potent free radical scavengers and highly protective agents for collagen fibers against UV damage. We previously reported the application of tocopherols to the grain layer in order to improve the durability of chrome-tanned leather. The current study is focusing on non-chrome-tanned leather made with a glutaraldehyde-tanning process. We conducted experiments applying tocopherols to the grain layer of leather. We also studied the addition of tocopherols to the fatliquoring drums. The treated samples were exposed in a Fadeometer and then evaluated for the efficacy of UV- and heat resistance as well as the mechanical properties. Data showed that leather coated with tocopherols resulted in significant improvement in tensile strength retention and color fading resistance against UV-radiation and heat. The leather fatliquored with tocopherols, however, did not show a similar improvement.