Abstract

The extent of uptake of C.I. Solubilised Sulphur Black 1, C.I. Direct Blue 106 and C.I. Direct Black 155 onto heavily retanned chrome grain leather was enhanced by pretreatment with chitosan formate. The dyed pretreated samples were of a similar, but deeper colour and possessed superior fullness and handle to their dyed, untreated counterparts. Optical microscopy suggests that the extent to which the intensified shade extends within the pretreated leather is determined by the substantivity and diffusional behaviour of the dye within a layer of chitosan located at the surface of the substrate.