Abstract

As a kind of by-product of leather manufacture, split generally exhibits weak mechanical strengths due to its loose weave structure of collagen fibres. The in-situ polymerization of acrylate monomers has proved to be an effective approach to reinforce the network structure of split in our previous work. However, the split has to be dehydrated by organic solvents so that hydrophobic monomers are able to penetrate into the fibre network and then polymerize in-situ. This process is complicated and may lead to the discharge of effluent containing organic solvents. In fact, traditional fatliquoring process imparts hydrophobicity to leather to some extent. In this study, chrome tanned split was firstly fatliquored and dried into crust. Then n-butyl-methacrylate(nBMA) was directly added into the crust split by drumming. After complete absorption of the monomer, Poly(n-butyl-methacrylate) (PnBMA)/split composite was easily prepared through hot pressing. The mechanical properties of the modified composite were measured to evaluate the reinforcing effect on split. The results suggested that the fatliquoring agents made of natural yolk provided the appropriate hydrophobicity for split, and thus benefited the subsequent polymerization. The composite with the addition of 20% fatliquoring agent and 50% nBMAshowed the best mechanical properties. Hot pressing conditions were optimized to be heated at 65°C for 60 minutes. The tensile strength and tear strength of the PnBMA/split composite prepared at optimum conditions are 37.25N/mm2 and 262.44N/mm, respectively. As a result, the reinforced split is expected to meet the requirement for producing most of leather products with high value-added.