Comparative Study Regarding the Resistance of Wet-White and Wet-Blue Leather to the Growth of Fungi

Abstract

Both tanned and finished leather may be damaged by fungi from Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium glaucom and Penicillium cyclopium, and Paecilomyces variotii species which irreversibly damage leather through the enzymes (collagenases, lipases and proteases) they produce. Fungi grow quickly under high humidity conditions and temperatures ranging between 25 and 30°C. This paper presents a comparative study regarding the fungal resistance of wet-blue (chromium-tanned) leather, wet-white leather tanned with titanium-aluminium-based compounds and wet-white leather tanned with resorcinol-oxazolidine. The study was performed according to ASTM Standard D 4576 - 08(2013) - Test Method for Mold Growth Resistance of Wet Blue. Conclusions of this study about mould growth resistance are drawn from the results obtained for a period of 28 days. It has been concluded by this study that no leather type is completely resistant to fungal attack. Wet-blue leather is highly susceptible to fungal attack of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus; Trichoderma viride and Mucor pusillus species do not grow on chromium-tanned wet-blue leather. Wet-white leather tanned with Ti-Al is attacked by all types of fungi studied. Wet-white leather tanned with resorcinol-oxazolidine is attacked by Aspergillus niger and Mucor pusillus, but inhibit the growth of moulds from the Aspergillus oryzae and Trichoderma viride species. This type of leather may also be damaged by moulds from the Penicillium genus.