Optimization of leather filling composition containing SiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

The global leather industry is looking for a cleaner leather processing technology to overcome its negative environmental impact. As an alternative to conventional processing, an ecofriendly filling composition based on fumed silica was developed and tested for the production of leather materials. Polycriterial optimization of the filling composition containing silica nanoparticles was conducted using the McLean-Anderson method by considering the type of mathematical model of the process “content-properties”. For optimization of the experimental conditions a multithreaded program based on calculation of informative and dispersive matrices and their determinants was developed. The optimal formulation of filling composition for the production of flexible leather materials was established and experimentally tested. The developed technology yields leather materials with increased volumetric yield and elasticity and more homogeneous microstructure when compared to the current company technology. The mathematical modelling discussed in the paper can be also used to solve similar problems for other technological processes.