Abstract

Washing pieces of leather at about 50°c in a 5% solution of an alkaline household detergent, followed by rapid drying, provides a quick test for the resistance of the leather to mild alkaline conditions. A number of leathers have been tested: in many cases serious damage has occurred after one or two washings. As compared with current perspiration tests, this method provides a simple way to assess quickly whether changes of processing are producing significant improvements in this respect.

The results to date suggest lines on which future research could well be directed.