Comparison of Fatliquoring Processes in Zeolite and Chrome Tanned Leather: A Comprehensive Investigation Through Physical Tests.

Abstract

Leather, a material that has survived from the first humans to the present day and still maintains its value; It is an inevitable fact that new alternative solutions will be sought as a result of the damage it may cause to nature and human health during and after the process of turning it into finished leather. Zeolite tanning materials obtained from natural minerals are a good alternative for modern leather production. It is aimed to reduce the use of chrome tanning agent, which has been a matter of debate in recent years because its use is harmful to the environment and human health, and it has been observed what kind of physical fastness occurs in the final leathers when zeolite tanning agent, which is a suitable alternative, is used. In this study; It has been tried to understand what kind of differences occur in the fatliquoring process of chrome tanned and zeolite tanned leathers with physical tests. While conducting this study; Spanish origin male calfskin was selected and one side was tanned with zeolite tanning agent and the other side with chrome tanning agent. Samples were taken from the tanned leathers from the sampling areas and the same retanning process was carried out with four different fat types and four different fats were selected from each type. In this way, when chrome tanning agent and zeolite tanning agent were applied separately in the fatliquoring process, the physical fastness resistance of the final leather product could be observed. Overall, the study was conducted to compare and test the feasibility of zeolite tanning with the traditional tanning method, chrome tanning agent, in the fatliquoring process to produce more sustainable and less toxic leathers.