Difference between revisions of "Oils & fats in the leather industry"

From www.leather-dictionary.com - The Leather Dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
m
Line 5: Line 5:
  
 
==Oils, fats and waxes in the [[leather production]]==
 
==Oils, fats and waxes in the [[leather production]]==
The use of greases, oils and waxes in the [[leather production|leather production process]] is important. The substances are used in production to influence certain [[leather quality|properties]] ([[Haptic evaluation of leather surfaces|softness]], [[Waterproofing leather|waterproofing]] or appearance). Fats, oils and waxes are main component of [[leather care]] and are sometimes used as substance of the [[Tanning with fats and oils|tanning]] itself.
+
The use of greases, oils and waxes in the [[leather production|leather production process]] is important. They are used in production to influence certain [[leather quality|properties]] ([[Haptic evaluation of leather surfaces|softness]], [[Waterproofing leather|waterproofing]] or appearance). Fats, oils and waxes are main components of [[leather care]] and are sometimes used directly during [[Tanning with fats and oils|tanning]] also.
 
+
  
 
==Fatliquoring (regreasing)==
 
==Fatliquoring (regreasing)==

Revision as of 18:14, 30 November 2016

LEATHER-DICTIONARY.jpg


Oils, fats and waxes in the leather production

The use of greases, oils and waxes in the leather production process is important. They are used in production to influence certain properties (softness, waterproofing or appearance). Fats, oils and waxes are main components of leather care and are sometimes used directly during tanning also.

Fatliquoring (regreasing)

In the tanning process, the natural fats of the animal are removed from the rawhide as they are not preserved and become rancid. To obtain a soft and stable leather, it must be re-greased. Already at the origins of tanning, leather was therefore re-greased with milk, brain, egg yolk, vegetable oil or fish transe (also called "fish oil"). Fats were also used for fat tanning. A finished fat leather has a fat content of up to 25%.

Fatliquoring refers to the refatting of leather with water-soluble oils. This can be done in the tanning process or even after dry cleaning. Dry cleaning is a cleaning process in a solvent bath which strongly degreases the leather. The fatliquor makes the leather supple and stable and the "starved" look of the degreased leather gets a handsome appearance again.

Oils and fats in leather affects the smell of leather. It is only one substance of many substances used when tanning which influences the smell of the finished leather. Fatliquors of good quality do not have an intrusive odour.


Raw materials for the fatliquoring agents

Sea animal oils: Fish oil

Land animal oils and fats: Claw oil, beef tallow, pig fat, bone fat

Vegetable oils and fats: Palm oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, coconut fat, palm kernel fat, turkey red oil

Waxes: Carnauba wax, montan wax, wool grease

Synthetic fats: Paraffin oil, mineral oil, fatty alcohol, fatty acid ester


Fischoel-01.jpg Klauenoel-01.jpg

Fish oil - Claw oil

 

Fats in leather care and finish

Leather is not only greased and oiled in the production to make it supple and soft. Fats and oils are also used as leather care to correct wear (in particular, shoe polish), or to waterproof leather, or to preserve old and dry leather by re-greasing and softening.

Oils, greases and waxes are also used in the finish. In case of pull up (greased leather - waxed leather - oiled leather), these substances are used to achieve certain effects in the surface. Pull-up usually has a patina optics which increases with the time.


Tasche-Fettleder-01.jpg Pull-Up-Riemen-02.jpg

Pull up leather - Waxed leather

 



Additional information


Video about the leather production


The leather production in a modern tannery.


Process steps in the leather production
storage - soaking - liming - fleshing - splitting - pickling - tanning - neutralising - withering - sorting - shaving - yeing (through colouring) and fatliquoring - drying - finish - softening - final check


Colourlock-GB-03.jpg

WE UNDERSTAND LEATHER - WWW.COLOURLOCK.COM