There are two types of tanning, vegetable tanning and chromium tanning , chromium tanning produce a softer and better quality cowhides.These cowhides are tanned with chrome, which provides them a soft and uniform texture.
Tanning and treatment to the cow hides rugs
This process consists of the following steps:
1) Soaking:
The preserved raw hides regain their normal water contents. Dirt, manure, blood, preservatives (sodium chloride, bactericides) etc. are removed.
2) Pickling:
Pickling increases the acidity of the hide to a pH of 3, enabling chromium tannins to enter the hide. Salts are added to prevent the hide from swelling. For preservation purposes, 0.03 - 2 weight percent of fungicides and bactericides are applied.
3) Tanning: Chrome tanning:
After pickling, when the pH is low, chromium salts (Cr3+) are added. To fixate the chromium, the pH is slowly increased through addition of a base. The process of chromium tanning is based on the cross-linkage of chromium ions with free carboxyl groups in the collagen. It makes the hide resistant to bacteria and high temperature. The chromium-tanned hide contains about 2-3 dry weight percent of Cr3+.4) Basification:
Fixing of the chrome with oxide of magnesium and fungicide’s addition (antifungal)
5) The next step it to realize the mechanical operations necessary to give them the needed thickness (Squeezed, divided and reduced)
6) Finally, the leather neutralizes each other with formiato-bicarbonate of sodium to be able to lubricate (synthetic oils) to give them the softness and the needed touch.
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