Microscopical studies in leather manufacture Part 3 of 4: Post tanning

摘要

The post tanning processes largely dictate the physical characteristics of a leather such as strength, softness extensibility and colour. These processes can be monitored using both light and electron microscopes. The penetration of fatliquors and retannages is monitored through examination of the leather fibres, and elemental mapping of the cross section using X-ray microanalysis and histology. In the absence of coatings the fibrils in the leather exhibit the triple helix banding pattern associated with collagen as shown in Figure 1.