Development of a flexible composite from leather industry waste and evaluation of their physico-chemical properties

Abstract

Worldwide leather industry is known to cause high degree of pollution such as soil and water contamination. Dyed trimming, a leather industry waste, is often dumped near the industrial site and is used for land filling. Recycling of such industrial wastes for making useful products by substituting leather has been investigated and reported here. Flexible composite sheets were made from dyed trimmings only and also in combination with natural fibres in various blend ratios. Wastes from jute and cotton were used as sources of natural fibres. The composite sheets showed maximum tensile strength and breaking loads at 50:50 blend ratios of dyed trimmings and natural fibres. The ultimate tensile strength, elongation, double fold, bursting strength, density and water and oil absorption characteristics of the composite sheets were determined as per American Society for Testing and Materials and Indian Standard methods. The products, i.e. the composite sheets, and the starting materials, i.e. the dyed trimmings and jute and cotton fibres, were also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of both untreated and treated dyed trimmings was carried out and the presence of chromium 2.54% in untreated samples was recorded but the sample treated with NaOH did not show the presence of chromium. The natural fibre significantly improves the mechanical strength and thermal properties of the blended composite sheets with the increase in flexibility. These flexible sheets possess higher physical strength as compared to leather and may be used as leather substitute for making apparels and goods.