Interviews
SDSU research could improve leather tanning
06 Aug '10
4 min read
One of the advantages of carbon dioxide, Raynie noted, is that subtle variations of temperature and pressure change its solubility properties.
“We can work under certain conditions when we want to favor solubility, and then adjust the temperature and pressure under conditions where we want to minimize the solubility to recover material,” he said.
The project — in which Raynie is directing research by Ph.D. student Jeremy Kroon — is focusing on the last stages of the leather tanning process first: waterproofing, dyeing, degreasing, regreasing.
Those are steps where the materials have a high degree of solubility in carbon dioxide, meaning there's a high probability of success. In fact, Raynie notes, dyeing is already done using carbon dioxide in the textile industry.
One of the SDSU project's first efforts will look at waterproofing agents. The gas-like diffusion properties of liquid carbon dioxide may make for greater penetration.
“Our thought is if we can impregnate the leather with the waterproofing agent rather than just perform a surface coating, that the waterproofing agent will last a lot longer, so it will be a much more durable finished product,” Raynie said. “Carbon dioxide would act as the carrier to bring in the waterproofing agent.”
SDSU will eventually evaluate carbon dioxide in other stages of the tanning process as well.
“We can work under certain conditions when we want to favor solubility, and then adjust the temperature and pressure under conditions where we want to minimize the solubility to recover material,” he said.
The project — in which Raynie is directing research by Ph.D. student Jeremy Kroon — is focusing on the last stages of the leather tanning process first: waterproofing, dyeing, degreasing, regreasing.
Those are steps where the materials have a high degree of solubility in carbon dioxide, meaning there's a high probability of success. In fact, Raynie notes, dyeing is already done using carbon dioxide in the textile industry.
One of the SDSU project's first efforts will look at waterproofing agents. The gas-like diffusion properties of liquid carbon dioxide may make for greater penetration.
“Our thought is if we can impregnate the leather with the waterproofing agent rather than just perform a surface coating, that the waterproofing agent will last a lot longer, so it will be a much more durable finished product,” Raynie said. “Carbon dioxide would act as the carrier to bring in the waterproofing agent.”
SDSU will eventually evaluate carbon dioxide in other stages of the tanning process as well.
South Dakota State University
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