Messi Biology states that magnesium oxide has broad application prospects and significant value in the leather industry. It not only improves the quality and performance of leather, but also meets environmental protection requirements, making an important contribution to the development of the leather industry.
1. Properties of Magnesium Oxide for Leather
Magnesium oxide is a high-purity alkaline powder that is insoluble in water but soluble in slightly acidic solutions. This characteristic allows it to slowly increase the pH of the solution during the leather tanning process, thus avoiding the shortcomings of general basicity adjusting additives.
2. Application of Magnesium Oxide in Leather
- As a Neutralizing Agent: In the leather tanning process, a large amount of acid or alkali is required for treatment. Magnesium oxide, as a neutralizing agent, can effectively regulate the pH of the tanning solution, making the tanning process more stable. The neutralization reaction of magnesium oxide can reduce the pH of wastewater, which is beneficial for environmental treatment.
- As a Filler: Magnesium oxide has good filling properties, which can increase the thickness and firmness of the leather, and improve the wear resistance and tear resistance of the leather. The particles of magnesium oxide are fine and uniform, which can be evenly distributed between the leather fibers, making the leather softer and smoother.
- As a Tanning Aid: Magnesium oxide can chemically react with collagen fibers in the leather during the tanning process, promoting cross-linking and recombination of collagen fibers, thereby improving the toughness and elasticity of the leather. Magnesium oxide can also synergize with other components in the tanning agent to improve the tanning effect.
- pH Control Agent: Chrome tanning processes require a gradual and continuous increase in pH during tanning. The slow dissolution and basic properties of magnesium oxide make it an excellent pH control agent. Adding magnesium oxide when processing top-grain leather can effectively regulate the acidity and alkalinity, further loosen the skin fiber structure, and create a suitable pH value for some tanning processes.
- Improving Leather Performance: The addition of magnesium oxide can significantly improve the water resistance and oil resistance of the leather. This is because magnesium oxide chemically reacts with the proteins in the leather to form stable chemical bonds, effectively preventing the penetration of water and oil. Magnesium oxide can also improve the dyeability and gloss of the leather. It undergoes a complexation reaction with dye molecules, making it easier for the dye to penetrate the interior of the leather, and reacts with oils to form a smooth film, making the leather surface more glossy.
3. Advantages of Magnesium Oxide for Leather
- Economical and Efficient: Magnesium oxide is used in small quantities and is easy to use (can be directly added to the drum in one go). Compared with general alkalis, it has more economic value and safety. The use of magnesium oxide can save labor to add alkaline salts in batches to increase basicity.
- Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable: Magnesium oxide, as an inorganic compound, does not produce a large amount of pollutants during the production process. Its use is relatively small, and it is easy to recycle and reuse, which meets environmental protection requirements and reduces pollution and damage to the environment.