Leather and footwear industry in Albania – history, tradition and its challenges

This paper aims to give an overview of the history of the development of Albanian leather and footwear manufacturing sector covering the whole production chain from leather processing to footwear production as well as the perspective of this sector in the country and its challenges

Electrical Resistivity of Conductive Leather and Influence of Air Temperature and Humidity

Leather is a material that has been used in different applications for centuries. Today, living in the era of high-tech­nology, we are surrounded by smart products. For this reason, traditional products must be changed or im­proved in order to support and make us more comfortable while using them. For instance, the touch screen display in electronics products is a smart phone’s or a tablet computer’s primary input device. Still, traditional leather will not function properly in a cold climate or other specific conditions. To make it conductive in such conditions, the double in-situ polymerization of the pyrrole coating method was used. The aim of this study was to observe the electrical properties of conductive leather. At the same time, it stands up to a wide range of different air temperatures, and relative and absolute humidity. These properties are essential because de­signers and textile engineers should be familiar with them when they decide to use materials in different smart products. Electricity conductivity tests were carried out in year-round temperatures from 7.5 °C to 28.1 °C, with a relative humidity from 18% to 77% and a vapor air concentration from 2.77 g/kg to 12.46 g/kg. The so-called “multiple-step method” was used to test leather’s electrical resistivity for the first time. The method considers a material’s compressional properties and provides an indicator inherent for a material’s electrical properties, regardless of the mass and shape of samples. The results showed a strong dependence between water vapor air concentration and electrical resistivity, described using the formula ρ = 1.3103 H−1.04 Ωm, with a correlation coefficient of 0.87. There was no relation between relative humidity and electrical resistivity, and resistivity and air temperature. Also, the results confirmed again that changes in the shape of the sample used during tests did not influence the measurement’s results, but supported the appropriateness of the measuring method

Investigating Properties of Electrically Conductive Textiles: A Review

Electro-conductive textiles are mostly fabrics that have conductive elements or electronics integrated into them to achieve electrical characteristics. They have acquired considerable attention in applications involving sensors, communications, heating textiles, entertainment, health care, safety etc. To produce electro-conductive textiles, several techniques, e.g. chemical treating with conductive polymers on various textile materials, or using different technologies, e.g. knitting, weaving, embroidery techniques to include conductive threads into fabric interconnections etc., are being used. Electro-conductive fabrics are flexible enough to be adapted to quick changes in any particular application, beginning with wearable purposes and sensing needs as specified by many different groups. The ability of electro-conductive textiles to conduct electricity is the most essential property they must possess. In addition, the applications that may be worn should have stable electrical, thermal and mechanical qualities. The most recent developments in the field of electro-conductive textiles represent the aim of this review, which analyses these properties, including the investigation of methods that are used to obtain conductive textiles, their electrical properties, thermal properties, and beyond that, the scientific methods that are used to measure and investigate electro-conductive textiles. We also focused on the textile materials used in studies, as well as the technologies used to make them conductive, which may be a guide for different interested groups for use in a variety of smart applications

Influence of Humidity on the Electric Resistivity of Leather: Mathematical Modelling

A mathematical model is presented to simulate the electric resistivity of leather samples as a function of humidity. It will be shown that absolute and not relative humidity is the crucial parameter. The model assumes that the leather includes channels that can absorb water from the surrounding environment. This effect primarily determines the electric conductivity of the leather samples. The theoretical results from the model are quite closely in line with experimental measurements

The anisotropic structure of electro conductive leather studied by Van der Pauw method

Determining the surface resistance of electro conductive refined natural leather materials is in the focus of this paper. Natural leather samples are initially transformed to conductive by applying chemical treatment process known as polymerization. Due to the existence of various techniques for measuring electrical resistance of conductive materials, we are focused on measuring surface resistance by arranging four electrodes in the edges of square leather samples, also known as Van der Pauw method. Improving the results accuracy, we use a multi-variant electrode placement over the sample edges. The result is the average of all results gained for different placements. Moreover, we use this electrode placement technique to analyse the anisotropy of conductive samples. The results of this research provide important knowledge about leather chemical treatment and its electrical proprieties

Albanian’s Fish Skin, Sustainability and Circular Economy

Leather from fish skins is by no means a new product for Albania. Regularly, this raw material goes unused and is dumped back into the sea, therefore it is wasted. Worldwide with changing consumer tastes, the circular economic practices, and sustainable sourcing, fish skin is a strong candidate to become an industry-shifting material. This is as well the best, most efficient technique to bring sustainability to the leather industry in the country and transform it into a cleaner and more circular sector. The aim of this research is to study the Albanian’s fish skin by using traditional tanning techniques to find alternate, sustainable techniques of making leather. The physico-mechanical properties of Albanian fish skins, were determined, where all fish leathers showed adequate physical strength to be used in the manufacture of leather goods such as clothing, footwear, wallets, and many other products

Resistivity behavior of leather after electro-conductive treatment

Measurement of electrical resistance of textile materials, fiber and fabrics included, remains always an engaging task due to sensitivities to interference of multiple factors. Difficulty stands on both finding a method of measurements that fits the requirements of samples to be tested and the most appropriate indicator describing this property. Numerous methods and indicators are used for different sample content and shape (fibers, roving, yarn or fabric, etc.), even when the material tested is the same. Different methods usually use indicators that produce results difficult to compare or to interpret, or do not express intrinsic qualities of their constituent materials. The situation is the same for leather materials. In this paper, we propose a new method, multiple steps method, and a new indicator, electrical resistivity, which takes into consideration compressional properties of leather sample and produce results independent from the amount and form of the sample. Electrical resistivity of conductive leather, as defined below, is shown to be an inherent indicator of bulk conductivity of leather assembly and is not influenced by sample form or the way it is placed within the measuring cell. The method is used for the first time to evaluate changes in electrical resistivity of leather after various chemical processes to make it electro-conductive. The data provide important information about the evolution of electro-conductive properties of leather at different stages of processing, as well as the influence of environmental conditions