Abstract

During chromium tanning of woolly sheepskins. weathered areas of the wool take up chromium and the resultant green colour persists through to the finished product. Testing of skins using both recycled bath and single-bath situations after additions of aluminium sulphate to the tanning bath has shown reduction of the chromium content and colour of the wool on the tanned skins. Limited physical testing of these skins has also shown no change in properties tested compared with skins tanned without aluminium added, with the exception of lower tear strength.