GIVING NEW LIFE TO LEATHER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10060, 30 January 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

GIVING NEW LIFE TO LEATHER.

A recently patented'process for refaiming leather,' which;- it-is*xlaimed, not- .only makes it more flexible, but adds, to its strength, elasticity, and wearing qualities, and also renders it permanently waterproof, is described in The Shoe and Leather Reporter. These results, we are told are not produced by filling the pores of the leather,, but by a. treatment of the fibres. Says the paper : — "The drigiii' of these processes ~ . • lies in tlie discovery of .a" -chemical, the basis of .the retanning, which when added ■ to leather combines with ; the fibres, together with afiy compound' mixed with it, and' becomes an intergal part of the product. Examination under a microscope shows that 'the fibres, in the retanned leather .have undergone a change, the fibres being more compact in their relation to each''other, -and ;iii"a sense more smooth attd- 'frWtionl&s in'; their action on each other, as is the case with the fibres in the live skin of an animal where there is no friction in their inter-action. It substantially revitalizes the hide, skin, or pMt'i'aiid" places it, as nearly as possible in tKe same respects. |hat ifie' Mde was during'the. life of the gnimal, excepting that;the, elements especiallyVsub,l'ect to dccay.Saye 'been removed and the: remaining fibril'made impervious to ordinary -chemical action. Although the fibres are compacted together, this process does not lessen or diminish tile size of the hide. Furthermore, leathers Jlius'.treated improve with time and do not".deteriorate. It matters not what kind of leather n<pr in what condition when processed,, so kjrig as there' are fibres on which to act>',. One main' reason besides tlje added sfrengtjh wljy' soles,of.shoes, for instance, wear..tyt£ or three times longer when'thuS processed than when unprocessed is because the fibres' pass over or against each other without friction. The new process as used for making patent leathers is quite distinct, .we are told,. from that applied ill ordinary patent leathers. W& read : ' Itis well' known that the patent Teatheis Sow on the market are made substantially _ as follows:. To the leather is,, 'first applied a 'daub' coat; which ; .takes', hold, of \tlie fibres'of the leather and gives a body to which the 'patent' or enamel finish can be applied. This coat is made of coni-. pounds practically impervious to .acids or oils, with the express purpose of preventing the acids and oils contained m the shellac from penetrating into and. injuring the leather. This results in tlhe patent or enamel finish being an outside coat, quite distinct and' separate from." the leather itself. For this i-eason .all 'patent leathers as ordinarily made are easily cracked or broken , open, especially;'if submitted to cold temperatures.' . lii the new p-rocess the' 'daub' coat and the finishing coats for patent or enamel are made to penetrate the leather, becoming an integral part of the fibres, so that the patent finish is not merely a layer of enamel on the outside, but rather the highly polished surface of the leather itself. Furthermore, each individual fibre in the leather is so treated that it-, is not. injured by any apids, oils, ox; other compounds to which tlie surface is,' thereafter, subjected.' This results in making the leather very clastic, pliable, and durable, even under rough and unusual treatment. These and other applications of the process are almost unlimited,' s r o that the treated leather may be used 'for many 1 purposes for which this substance is not- usually employed. Says the writer: "As these processes can make leather absolutely waterproof, leather thus treated can be substituted, for rubber in many 'of\ it's uses.' . Accordingly rubber overshoes, generally regarded as a nuisance, become unnecessary s Leather belting can be run under water or in steam or'other conditions where now rubber or other belts have to be used ; also leather or kid gloves can be inade waterproof," thereby displacing rubber , gloves for many uses!. As these processes so increase the substance, tensile strength, and'.serviceability of poorer and cheaper hides or skins," such as sheep, skin, as to be available as practical substitutes for calf, and other more expensive skins, or hides, an immehse field is thereby opened.. As under this new process patent- leather can be made which can be bent or twisted, in hot or cold weather, without- breaking or cracking, such patent leather becomes available for many uses to which it has never been applied. Whole new industries and businesses become possible and in fact probable. Under one of these processes leather can be made practically stain-proof. Thus white kid or tan leather can be so treated that- any ordinary acid or alkali solution, fruit juice, salt water, ink, or other fluids ordinarily causing stain, leave 110 impression. This result makes possible the development- of entirely nevy branches of trade in decorative arts as applied to many- articles of commerce. As these processes in a sense embalm the fibers in the leather, skins, or pelt to which applied, rendering them impervious to attack by any ordinary chemical action or by insect life, they make furs mothproof. Long experience has shown, that the moths will not -attack furs thus treated. Furthermore, in the treatment of the pelts by these processes fill's are greatly strengthened and placed in a condition where they 6tand much greater and'longer wear."