INVESTIGATING THE COLOR CHANGES AND THE PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LEATHER TREATED WITH SILVER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED USING PIPER BETLE LEAF EXTRACT

Abstract

The shoe lining layer which contacts with the feet, absorbs moisture and sweat from the feet, is a good media for the
development of various pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, consumers are interested in footwear with antimicrobial
properties. To provide antimicrobial properties to shoe lining leather, green synthetic silver nanoparticles from Piper betel leaf
extract was used as an antimicrobial agent to treat the pig leather by pressing, impregnating and spraying methods. The effect
of treatment methods on the leather properties was investigated via the color changes and the physico-mechanical properties
of the untreated and treated leathers. The assessment methods were carried out according to Vietnamese and international
standards. The experimental data were compared with the requirements of the shoe lining material according to the standard
TCVN 8842:2011 (ISO 20882:2007). The results show that all treated leathers meet the requirements for making shoe linings.
In general, the leather’s treatments did not affect on its physico-mechanical properties, but affected on the leather’s color.
Spray method had advantages over impregnation and impregnation methods when it made the least change in leather’s color,
increased the breathability and remained the softness of leather.