The effect of different paraffin emulsions on the thermal stability of collagen

Paraffin emulsions are an important lubricating agent in meeting needs for present-day leather properties. The fatliquoring process with paraffins penetrates deeply between fiber bundles and bonds physically or chemically with the reactive groups of collagen. In our study, paraffin emulsions containing ZnO nanoparticles were used to develop the stability of modified collagen. Zinc oxide paraffin emulsions were applied to the leather in the fatliquoring process. Shrinkage temperatures of leathers (Ts) were determined with a special test apparatus according to the IUP 16 standard method. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements carried out on the fatliquored leather at a constant heating rate were used to determine denaturation temperatures (Td) and melting temperatures (Tm) of the fatliquored leather. The results of the research show that the thermal stability of leathers was improved remarkably by fatliquoring with all paraffin emulsions.