Synthesis of leather fatliquoring agent with using castor oil/metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) via Pickering emulsion polymerization

A castor oil-based fatliquoring agent was successfully synthesized using metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) via Pickering emulsion polymerization. TEM image indicated that the castor oil was surrounded by MOFs. Visual control of the synthesized fatliquoring agent showed that the presence of MOFs lead to a stable oil/water emulsion for more than 8 months. The prepared fatliquoring agent was applied to the leather and mechanical properties were evaluated, and compared to a leather sample fatliquored by a conventional agent. Elongation at break and tensile strength were 114% and 28MPa, respectively. The results show that the prepared fatliquoring agent significantly improved mechanical properties of leather. In this work, the natural chitosan material, which has good compatibility with collagen leather, was used to increase UV resistance. UV resistance of leather was 2.5 times more than leather sample fatliquored by a conventional agent.