Preparation of Antibacterial Fatliquoring Agents Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Leather Industry

Abstract

In this study, zinc oxide nano-particles known to have antibacterialproperties were emulsified with different chain length paraffins to beused as fatliquoring agents. The research was carried out on chrometanned upholstery leathers. Different proportions of nano zinc oxidewere studied in the paraffin emulsions. The prepared emulsions wereinvestigated underneath a Keyence VHX-1000 digital microscope.The average particle size of the emulsions was measured. After theemulsification process, the leathers were finished in accordance withthe industrial upholstery recipe. The emulsions were applied toleather in the fatliquoring process. Antibacterial activities of thefinished leather were evaluated according to ASTM Standard E 2149-01, and the results showed significant bacterial reduction on thetreated leathers. The impacts of the fatliquoring agents utilized in theresearch on light fastness were also inspected by using an ATLASXENOTESTALPHA+ test instrument. Light fastness values oftreated leathers indicated that nano zinc oxide particles provided theUV absorbing property on the collagen fibers.