Abstract

In the course of a modified tanning process, a permanent fastness to washing is acquired by garment leather. The results are presented of studies on a tanning process introducing the fatliquoring agents together with tanning agents into the skin tissue and binding them with collagen. Attempts were made to synthesise and to apply the bifunctional agents. Chromium nitrate and palmitic acid were used for preparation of a tanning/fatliquoring agent. The resulting product, most likely a chromium complex with fatty acid, is soluble in isopropanol. For that reason the tanning and fatliquoring process of calf skins was carried out in isopropanol. Processed leather exhibited a high fat content (about 5%) fixed in the skin tissue. Chemical bonding of fatliquoring and tanning agents with collagen led to the required fastness to washing.