Comparisonof the effect of the tropical test on both chrome-tanned and wet-white upholstery leather

Abstract

Automotive upholstery leather can undergo extreme environmental conditions that may cause premature ageing. Leather is strongly affected by three main environmental parameters: temperature,relative humidity and UV radiation. UV radiation causes colour change, fading, surface erosion, loss of gloss, etc. Increasing the levels of UV radiation represents a primary accelerating factor for leather ageing. Temperature produces thermal oxidation degradations, subsequent reaction rates and acceleration of other weathering reactions. Relative humidity acts as a chemical reagent in many hydrolytic weathering reactions and as a physical stressor of leather. Additionally, when relative humidity is over 65% leather is susceptible to mould attack. The aim of this work is to compare the effect of the tropical environment exposure on both chrometanned and wet-white upholstery leather.