Use of Viscoelastic Changes to Demonstrate the Relationship Between Drying Parameters – A Preliminary Study

Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) is routinely used for mechanical analysis by the polymer industry to provide information on the viscoelastic properties of a material. This report reveals how DMTA has been used to further previous studies by providing insight into the differences between post-tanned leathers (chromium and chromium-free). It demonstrates the potential to correlate the results with an industrial application such as optimization of the drying conditions during cell rotary conditioning (CRC). DMTA can indicate leather fiber response to changes in atmospheric humidity and temperature, potentially facilitating real-time adaptation of conditions during leather drying. Initial DMTA results show that post-tanning, particularly fatliquoring, changes the rate of drying and allows scientists to advise on optimal leather drying conditions based on viscoelastic changes.