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Evaluation and Application of Acrylic Based Binder for Leather Finishing

MI Ugbaja, A Ejila, PAP Mamza, MI Uzochukwu, H Opara

Acrylic based binder AE 558 Nycil was evaluated using the FT-IR spectroscopy technique, solution viscometry process, and a melting point apparatus. Five different formulations based on the resin binder was prepared and then applied on originally retanned leathers to generate five samples for testing. The result of the FT-IR indicates that the resin binder is predominantly an acrylate. The intrinsic viscosity of the resin binder is 227 dL/g and the resulting (calculated) molecular weight is 4.03 x 10⁵. The melting temperature of the resin binder is found to be in the range 361.7 ^oC- 370.0 ^oC. The effect of the finish formulations on water vapour permeability and wet rub fastness of the originally retanned leathers were investigated. Water vapour permeability test was also carried out for the unfinished (originally retanned) leathers as control samples. The results indicated that the water vapour permeability of the finished leather samples was significantly lower when compared to that of the unfinished (control) leather samples. However, for the finished leather samples, water vapour permeability increases as the quantity of the binder varied in this experiment was increased. The result of the VESLIC test indicated the resistance of the finished leather samples improves as the quantity of the binder varied in this experiment was increased. The overall results showed that the formulations containing the 200 g and 250 g of the binder are good for leather finishing applications where suitable water vapour permeability and excellent rub fastness are both required. In conclusion, the result of the study showed that the binder is a high polymer material that qualifies them for use in leather finishing.