Abstract

An acrylic resin and an acrylic-resin/nano-SiO2 composite prepared as coating agents were applied in leather finishing and various properties of the finished leathers were determined. The results show that the physicalmechanical properties and cleaning properties of the leather samples finished with the acrylic-resin/nano-SiO2 composite increase noticeably. As examples, water vapour penetration and air permeability improved by 11.5% and 15.4%, dry rub fastness and folding strength [flexing] of the leather finished with the composite resin were also, to a degree, superior to that finished by the acrylic resin. The surface morphology observed by SEM (scanning electron microscope-energy spectrum of X-ray analysis) and AFM (atomic force microscope) indicated that the surface of the leather finished with the composite resin is smoother than that of leathers finished with the acrylic resin.