The Leather Industry: A Chemistry Insight Part I: an Overview of the Industrial Process

Abstract

A panoramic overview of the leather world market is given. The industrial tanning process is schematically explained giving a general outline of how an animal skin is transformed into a durable material having many different characteristics according to its specific future use. All the tanning industrial steps are overviewed starting from soaking, liming and after various steps ending up with finishing. An insight of collagen chemistry is also given