The effects of atmospheric moisture on the physical properties of vegetable and chrome tanned calf leathers

Data are presented giving the changes in tensile strength, stretch, load at failure, area, thickness, and moisture content with changes in relative humidity for vegetable and chrome-tanned calf leathers.The differences between the behaviors of chrome-and vegetable-tanned leathers are accounted for by the difference between the amounts of protein material in the leathers.The mechanism of the effect of absorbed moisture on the strength of leather is discussed.CONTENTS Page I. Introduction 147 II.Description of leathers used 148 III.Methods of tests 148 1. Strength and stretch tests 148 2. Moisture content 150 3. Rate of adsorption 151 4. Area change 151 IV.Results 153 1. Strength and stretch tests 153 2. Moisture content 155 3. Rate of adsorption 157 4. Area change