Tanning of Different Animal Skins/Hides and Study of Their Properties for Textile Application

The animal skins and hides (wet salted/fresh goat skins, sheep skins and cow hides) were tanned using a rotating drum after it was aged for four days by enclosing it in an air tight environment using polyethylene bags. The properties of goat skins, sheep skins and cow hides studied were based on moisture absorption, thickness, breaking and tearing strength. The results of the analysis indicate that a thick strong leather material was obtained from the cow hides compared to goat and sheep skins. Softer leather was obtained from the sheep compared to goat. Therefore, goat and sheep gave best leather for shoe upper and upholstery while the cow hides gave best leather for sandals and other heavy leather products.