Abstract

Systematic work has been done on the locational differences in the physical properties of upper leathers produced by vegetable and chrome tanning. This study was made on samples obtained from eight different locations, viz., neck, shoulder, front shank, belly, butt, official butt, back shank and tailend of tanned hides. The important properties of upper leather, viz., tensile strength, elongation at break, percentage set, stitch tear strength and tongue tear strength, moisture absorption, and water vapour permeability were studied and the results are presented in this paper. The effects of tanning were assessed by determining the same physical properties on acetone dehydrated hides. The significance of results is assessed using standard statistical methods.