Abstract

The task of producing garment leathers from goatskins is challenging owing to the compactness of the corium and the roughness of the grain surface, thus, to achieve the characteristics of garment leathers made from hair sheepskins, the choice of tanning system is critical. Treatment with silicates produces leathers, which have good softness and fluffiness. Since silica does not give the desired shrinkage temperature; chromium has been incorporated in the tanning agent.

In this present study, a new chrome-silica tanning agent has been prepared to make garment leathers from goatskins with sheep-like characteristics. This tanning agent exhibits additional benefits because of its chrome saving approach. The percentage exhaustion of chrome is increased from a conventional 70% to 90% and analysis of spent tan liquor shows reduction in TDS and COD values. The leathers made with this tanning agent are soft, have smooth grain and fluffiness. A hairsheep-like character results from tanning goatskins with this new ecofriendly chrome-silica tanning agent.