Abstract

Goatskins have been unhaired using nickel carbonate instead of sodium sulphide. The skins were treated with a paste of 1% nickel carbonate, 1% sodium hydroxide, 3% lime and a filler like kaolin or china clay plus water. The skins were covered and left for 16 h. at room temperature (28°C). The unhaired skins were further processed by conventional techniques and converted into crust leather. The results obtained are comparable with suiphide lime system in terms of duration and efficacy of the process. Unlike sodium sulphide unhairing, the skins unhaired with nickel carbonate have a natural colour and the crust leather was softer than the control leathers.