A Novel Approach for Enhanced Color Intensity andUniformity in Leather Dyeing

Abstract

Dyeing is a significant process step in leather making that iscarried out to enhance the aesthetics of the tanned hides andskins. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the skin matrix,obtaining leathers with consistent color is challenging. Thepresent study describes application of hydrotalcite-like inorganicsynthetic material (HTLM) during leather dyeing to bring coloruniformity among leathers by maximizing the color intensitywithin the skin and among the skins processed in a batch. TheHTLM has been used in an interim step between two phases ofdyeing that enhanced shade intensity as well as color consistencythrough modification of the leather surface chemically. Theefficacy of the HTLM for enhanced color intensity anduniformity in leather has been investigated. Influence of theHTLM on the physicals characteristics like, perspiration, colorfastness to light and dry/wet rub are also studied.