Epoxidized rubber seed oil: A modified tanning material for chamois leather

Rubber seed oil (RSO) is a crucial material for numerous industrial applications. The aim of this study is to examine the potential of RSO for use as a modified oil tanning agent to produce Chamois leather. For this purpose, RSO has been converted into epoxidized rubber seed oil (ERSO). FTIR and 1 H NMR spectroscopic methods are used to characterize both oils. Comparative physicochemical and antimicrobial characteristics of RSO and ERSO are also evaluated. The iodine value of RSO significantly decreased from 136 g I₂/100 g to 36 g I₂/100 g in the ERSO, indicating a substantial reduction in unsaturation. This reduction corresponds to an increase in oxirane content from 0.2 % in RSO to 4.98 % in ERSO, confirming the successful conversion of unsaturated fatty acids into epoxy groups. Additionally, both RSO and ERSO are used for tanning the leather, and the tanned leathers are characterized. Results show that the average tensile strength, Baumann tear strength, elongation, and softness for RSO tanned leather (RSOTL) and ERSO tanned leather (ERSOTL) are 43.40 N/mm 2 , 65.34 N/mm 2 , 99.18 N, 102.05 N, 67.68 %, 64.44 %, and 4.23 mm, 5.66 mm, respectively. The physicochemical characteristics, such as water vapor permeability and shrinkage temperature, for RSOTL and ERSOTL are 3.20 mg/cm 2 /h, 13.27 mg/cm 2 /h, and 68 ºC, 70 ºC, respectively. Furthermore, the water absorption capacity of RSOTL and ERSOTL is found to be 215 % and 370 % respectively, which is crucial parameter of Chamois leather.