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Leather and Textiles Physical Property Measurement

The textiles and leather industries employ millions of people worldwide, turning raw materials such as natural fibres (cotton and wool) and synthetic fibres (polyester) or treated, tanned hide into finished products such as clothes and footwear, using multiple complex processes.

Research and Development in the leather and textiles industries are now more important than ever before. Customers are driven to purchase eco-friendly alternatives to traditional materials, seeking out textiles that require a lower volume of water for growth (e.g. hemp as an alternative to cotton), recycled leather and textiles, textiles that consume a large amount of carbon dioxide during their growth (e.g. bamboo) and vegan alternatives to silk and leather. Vegan leathers were until recently made from PVC. However, novelty value and customers’ desire for reducing plastic manufacture, have caused plant-based leathers to become increasingly popular. These can be made from a wide variety of plant materials, including pineapples, apples and crop waste.

These alternative materials must still perform satisfactorily, in applications that cause them to be subjected to high and fluctuating stresses, and frequently harsh environmental conditions.