Leather grades and from animals

Aldehyde tanned leathers are tanned using glutaraldehyde or oxazolidine compounds.It is called a "wet white" because of its pale cream color.It is the main type of "chrome-free" leather and is commonly found in baby shoes and car shoes.Formaldehyde has been used in tanning leather in the past; it is being phased out due to the danger to workers and the sensitivity of many people to formaldehyde.Chamois leather is a form of aldehyde tanning that produces a porous and highly absorbent leather.Chamois hides are made from oil (traditionally cod oil) which oxidizes to produce aldehydes that tan the leather. Brain tanned leather is made through a labor-intensive process using emulsified oil,usually the brains of animals such as deer, cow and buffalo.They are known for their exceptional softness and washability.Conversion of alum leather by mixing aluminum salts with various binders and protein sources such as flour and egg yolks.Alum leather is not actually tanned; instead, the process is called "tawing," and the resulting material reverts to rawhide if soaked in water long enough to remove the alum salts.

Grades

In general,leather is divided into the following grades:

Top grain leather consists of the outer layer of the hide,called the grain, which has finer,denser fibers for strength and durability.      Depending on thickness, it may also contain some more fibrous underlayer called the dermis.Types of top grain leather include:Full grain leather contains the entire grain layer without any surface removal.It does not wear down, but develops a patina over its lifespan.It is generally considered the highest quality leather.Furniture and footwear are often made from full-grain leather.Full grain leather is usually finished with soluble aniline dyes.Russian leather is a full grain leather.The surface of the corrected grain leather is finished for a more uniform appearance.This usually involves buffing or sanding away imperfections in the texture, and then staining and embossing the surface.Nubuck is a top grain leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side to lightly nap the short protein fibers to create a velvety surface.The genuine leather left after the top grain has been separated from the hide is called split leather, called teardrop split.In thicker leathers,the teardrop split can be further divided into a middle split and a fleshy split.Bicast leather is a two-ply leather pressed into a wet polyurethane or vinyl layer on an embossed release liner and then cured.This makes it look like grain.It is slightly harder than top grain leather, but has a more consistent texture.Patent leather is leather that has been given a high gloss by adding a coating.Dating back to the late 1700s, it became popular after inventor Seth Boyden developed the first mass production process in 1818 using a linseed oil-based paint.The modern version is usually a form of double-faced leather.Suede is made from a split base for a soft suede effect.It is usually made from younger or smaller animals, as the skin of adult animals often results in rough, hairy naps.Leather is a term with many definitions.In some countries,when it appears on product labels,the term means nothing else than "contains leather". The term generally refers to split leather that has been extensively worked,and is not considered a premium product.Some sources describe it as a synonym for double-faced leather or made of multiple pieces glued together and painted or even bonded leather.In some countries, regulations restrict the use of this term on product labels.Bonded leather, also known as recycled leather, is a material that uses shredded leather waste and bonds it to a web of fibers with polyurethane or latex.The content of leather fibers in the mixture varies from 10% to 90%, affecting the characteristics of the product.

From other animals

Today, most leather is made from cowhide, accounting for about 65% of all leather production.Other animals used include sheep (about 13%), goats (about 11%) and pigs (about 10%).Getting accurate numbers from around the world is difficult,especially for areas where the skin may be eaten.The other animals mentioned below account for only a small fraction of the total leather production.Horsehide is used to make a particularly durable leather.Shell cordovan is a type of horse leather that is not made from the outer skin but from the underlayer,found only in equines, called the shell.It's prized for its mirror-like finish and anti-wrinkle properties.Lambskin and buckskin are used for soft leather in more expensive garments.Buckskin is widely used in work gloves and indoor shoes.Reptile skins such as crocodile, crocodile and snake are known for the unique patterns that reflect the scales of their species. This has led to hunting and farming of these species, in part for their hides.The Argentine black and white tegu is one of the most exploited reptile species in the world's leather trade.However, it is not endangered and trade is legal in most South American countries when monitored.Kangaroo Hide is used to craft items that must be strong and flexible.It is the most commonly used material in bullwhip.Some motorcyclists prefer to use kangaroo leather for motorcycle leather because it is lightweight and wear-resistant. Kangaroo leather is also used in Falcon tracksuits, football boots (eg Adidas Copa Mundial[26]) and boxing speed packs.Although ostriches were originally bred for their feathers in the 19th century, they are now more popular for their meat and leather.Ostrich skin has a characteristic "goosebump" appearance because of the large follicles from which the feathers grow.Different processes produce different finishes for many applications, including upholstery, footwear, automotive products, accessories and apparel.In Thailand, stingray skin is used to make wallets and belts.Stingray leather is tough and durable.The leather is usually dyed black and covered with tiny round bumps in the natural pattern of the animal's back.These bumps are then usually dyed white to accentuate the decoration.Stingray hides are also used as grips for Chinese swords, Scottish basket swords and Japanese katana swords.Stingray leather is also used in high-wear areas of motorcycle racing leather (especially gloves, whose high abrasion resistance helps prevent scuffing in the event of an accident).For a given thickness, fish skin is usually much stronger due to its criss-cross fibers.