The Effect of Flame Retardant Addition on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cattle-hides Leather for Working Gloves
Iwan Fajar Pahlawan, Widari, Gresy Griyanitasari
Center for Leather, Rubber and Plastics, Ministry of Industry
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the influence of flame retardant addition in fatliquoring and finishing process on the quality of the finished leather. The research used materials, i.e. pickled cattle hides, chromium basic sulphate, synthetic tanning agents, commercial flame retardant, fatliquors, dyestuff, and other chemicals for beam house operation and finishing process. The trial included the addition of flame retardant in fatliquoring (2%, 4%, and 6% w/w) and finishing process (100 parts, 200 parts, 300 parts). As a control, pickled cattle hides were processed without the addition of the flame retardant. The evaluation of the samples was emphasized on the physical and mechanical properties of those after the treatment. Physical properties were represented by the shrinkage percentage, thickness, and rub fastness. While, mechanical properties comprised the tensile strength and elongation at break. The results showed that the resultant leather-s shrinkage percentage varied from 7.65% to 13.03%, the thickness covered a range between 0.71 mm to 1.01 mm, and the rub fastness was 5 (dry basis) and 4/5 (wet basis). This study concluded that several treatments could meet the standard related to leather working gloves and heat resistance leather.
Keywords: Fatliquoring, finishing process, flame retardant, heat resistance leather, leather working gloves
Topic: Post harvest handling and processing of meat, milk, eggs, wools, and by-products