Abstract

A recent development is the trading of hides in the pickled condition. In order to provide some information on this relatively new commodity studies have been carried out which form the core of the present paper. Pickled hides were found to differ significantly in composition from pickled sheepskins. The hide substance content was found to be double that of pickled sheep, and the moisture content to be in the region of 50% compared with 60% for drained sheepskin. Although the acid and the salt contents were appreciably less than the current acceptable levels for a pickled sheepskin, the pH of water extract being generally about 2.6, there was no evidence of deterioration on storage: all pickled hides examined had been treated with a fungicide. Many of the pickled hides were processed into sole leather which was analysed, subjected to physical tests and examined microscopically. None of the leathers showed any abnormal properties. Some of the leathers had been prepared from only half the hide, the other half being processed to the leather stage without pickling. This comparison showed that pickled stock yielded a leather with a higher tanning figure and degree of tannage. The water resistance properties tended to be somewhat impaired by pickling but the abrasion rates were satisfactory.