Tanning Performance of the EIT AT Tanning Agent in Pickling and Non-pickling Tanning Systems

This study aimed to investigate the tanning performance of a newly organic chromium-free tanning agent, EIT AT. The pickled sheepskins were used in the experiment. By using two different tanning systems: conventional pickling and non-pickling, the shrinkage temperature, fiber morphology, and thermodynamic properties of tanned leather were analyzed. The results showed that the change of variations in tanning process has a similar impact on the tanning effect in two different tanning systems. At the 6% amount of EIT AT, the shrinkage temperature of the crust leather can reach above 89 ℃; The crust leather exhibited full grain and clear pores, as well as similar thermal stability and mechanical properties in two different tanning systems. Therefore, the tanning effect of EIT AT tanning agent shows less differences with pickling or non-pickling conditions. The results provide a certain theoretical guidance for the popularization and application of chromium-free tanning technology with EIT AT tanning agent.