Abstract

Internal bovine stomachs membrane is a by-product from the slaughter house.

Quality exotic chamois leather with a grain: a different variety from an ordinary velvety chamois may be obtained if the membranes, after preliminary beamhouse operations, are pickled and pre-tanned with formalin or glutaraldehyde, followed by a cod oil tannage.

The leather was soft, stretchy (50—65.8% elongation at break), with rapid water absorption, light weight, yellow/light brown colour with an adequate thickness (0.7—1.4 mm) and shrinkage temperature (T5 6l°C—68°C). However the water absorption was limited due to the lower porosity of the typical fibres of the membranes.

The leather processed from this non-conventional source has been found suitable for manufacturing fancy small leather goods like ladies handbags, purses, wallets, and also for covering handles of tennis racquets and hockey sticks.