Curtición inorgánica de pieles bovinas utilizando diferentes niveles de sol de sílice para cuero de calzado.

Abstract

This work's objective was to carry out inorganic tanning to bovine hides using different levels of silica sol (9,12,15 and 18%) for shoe leather. It was an experimental type investigation because to work with it, the use of controlled variables such as the concentration of silica sol and dependent such as physical, mechanical, sensory, and shrinkage temperature to assess the leather's quality was necessary. The number of experimental units was 20 bands in total, that is, five bands per treatment. The results indicate that the optimum concentration of silica sol used in the tanning of bovine hides was 18% (T4) since the strengthening of the fibrillar fabric is achieved not to break or deteriorate when applying the different forces that simulate the time of making the final article. The physical tests of the leather determined the highest tensile strength (2342.14 N / cm2) elongation percentage (91.50) %), and astrometry (10.08 mm), when using 18% of silica sol and that they widely exceed the requirements of quality of regulatory bodies. The sensory ratings of fullness showed similar results (4.80 points), softness (4.80 points), and looseness of grain, (4.60 points) since the achieved highest scores indicated the level (18%) and the rating was excellent. The production costs per dm2 of finished leather tanned with chrome salts are lower since it presents a value of 0.16 USD / dm2 compared to the tan with silica sol, which was 0.18. However, the benefit-cost ratio was higher since the values' result was 1.31, equal to a profit of 31%. The recommendation is to use the silica sol tanning agent since the skin's transformation into leather is more environmentally friendly. Besides, it also presents more excellent physical performance and sensory qualifications, that is, a quality raw material, the present investigation can be replicated using the appropriate level silica sol (18%), but in other skins of zootechnical interest.