Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of eighteen different types of fatliquoring agents on leather ageing.

Temperature and ultraviolet light tests were conducted separately. The existence of a direct relationship between leather yellowing, diminution of shrinkage temperature, autoflammability and odour was confirmed. There was also a non-linear relationship between the above parameters and the iodine index of the fatliquoring agents.

Hexavalent chromium was not formed when temperature tests were applied on neutralised and fatliquored leathers. The possible physicochemical mechanisms for this phenomenon are discussed.

The temperature tests exerted greater influence than the ultraviolet light tests on the aforementioned parameters.