How Leather Is Made

Leather has been used by mankind for a long time to produce footwear, clothing, accessories, furniture and other products. The process of leather goods obtaining is a rather complicated one, because this material passes through a wide range of procedures from the initial till the final stages. Let’s learn more about the leather goods producing.

Stages of Genuine Leather Manufacturing

Genuine leather is made of animal skins, which are processed with the help of physical and physical-chemical processes. In total there are about 20 procedures, which are conventionally divided into 3 stages, such as preparatory works, tanning and finishing works. Short descriptions of each of them are given below.

1. Preparatory Works

At the initial stage of production, animal’s skin is preserved, and then turned into a semi-finished product (rawhide) for the further tanning. Preparatory works include lots of procedures. In the process of transformation of the initial raw material into a semi-final product, leather is cleaned from dirt, fatty layer, muscle residues, wool, epidermis and preserving agents with the help of solutions of chemical reagents. After these procedures are being completed, raw materials are sorted for further processing.

2. Tanning

Tanning is the main operation of genuine leather obtaining. There are several possible ways this material to be tanned, every of which has its special aspects (read about the main methods below). Tanning helps leather to improve its physical-chemical properties and eliminate its bad properties. As a result of tanning, material becomes elastic and wear-resistant, and therefore can be used without a risk to be damaged. Such procedure is carried out in a drum, where depending on the type of tanning, vegetable, oil or chemical reagents to be added.

3. Finishing Works

After tanning, finishing procedures should be held. If there are certain natural defects, such as bites, scars, abrasions, punctures, genuine leather should be buffed, and then, if necessary, embossed. As soon as all the problems with the surface of material are eliminated or not initially found, the painting process should be held.

Genuine leather has three possible natural colors, such as black, brown and beige. However, modern technologies of dyeing let products to get almost any shade. Special dyes are used for coloring, as well as organic and mineral acids. As soon as this procedure is completed, leather is greased to become soft and resilient.

The Main Methods of Leather Tanning

Nowadays, there are both natural and chemical tanning methods, and each of these types is intended to produce a certain type of natural material. Below you can find a list of the most widely used methods of leather tanning:

Chrome-tanned. Basis chromium salts are used to tan animal’s skin according to this method. As a result, leather becomes soft, resilient and heat-resistant. The main disadvantage of this method of leather tanning is that material is afraid of water.
Vegetable-tanned. This type of leather tanning is based on the use of tannins contained in bark and leaves of trees. As a result, material is moisture resistant, thick and has high density. This method can be used only in combination with others.
Oil tanning. This is a kind of genuine leather tanning, which is carried out with the help of fats of sea animals and fish oil.
Zirconium. It is used to obtain white leather, which have high strength, is durable and moisture resistant.
Synthetic. Tanning is possible with the help of syntans, that make genuine leather more attractive, resilient and brighten its color. This method is usually used in combination with others.
Aluminum-tanned. Tanning is possible with the help of aluminum salts. Leather become soft and malleable, but poorly tolerate moisture.