pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S02 - Bio-based and Biodegradable Polymers
Keynote Presentation
 
 

Environmentally Friendly and Animal Free Leather: Fabrication and Characterization

Saha Nabanita (1)*, Ngwabebhoh Fahanwi Asabuwa (2), Nguyen HauTrung (2), Saha Petr (2)

(1) Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, - Zlin - Czech, (2) Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, - Zlin - Czech

Environmentally friendly and animal free leather known as “vegan leather” or artificial “leather”, is an alternative biomaterial produced without the use of any animal component. This biomaterial, compared to traditional leather shows similar physical properties, with recent studies showing that this class of materials are gradually gaining market in the fashion industry, as an alternative to animal leather. Hence, efforts towards the preparation of such biomaterials based on novel formulations for prospective application in the leather industry is accomplished in the present study. Different compositions of the vegan materials also termed as biocomposites are successfully fabricated using waste maple leave (5-10%) and apple fruit (0-10%) pulp mixed with additives, such as kombucha biomass cellulose (25-40%), biodegradable polyesters (0-25%), and poly(ethylene) glycol diglycidyl ether (5-15%) as well as plasticizers (5-20%). The prepared biocomposite materials are then characterized for morphology, mechanical, adhesion, and water absorptive properties. SEM results confirm that the fabricated biocomposites are breathable in nature. In addition, the tensile, DMA, and adhesion analysis showed that the materials are flexible with considerable mechanical strength, as well as possesses partly cohesive adhesion properties. To conclude, this material may be considered as a prospective leather alternative for application in leather accessories, such as handbags and upper shoe sole. Keywords: Animal free leather, Artificial leather, Vegan leather, Biocomposites, Environment friendly. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work is supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic – NPU Program I (LO1504), Internal Grant Agency (Project No. IGA/CPS/2019/003), Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic.