Pyrolysis-GC/MS Real and Faux Leather

Abstract

Pyrolysis reveals components and differences between different leather and faux leather products.

Introduction

Pyrolysis-GC/MS allows for the analysis of organic materials which are too large to be compatible with GC alone. Material is heated in a controlled way, facilitating breakdown into volatile compounds which can be studied by GC/MS. Results are polymer specific, making pyrolysis the perfect way to analyze all types of polymers, including natural and synthetic textiles, such as leather and artificial leather.

About 100mg of sample was heated to a setpoint of 600°C.

Results and Discussion

Natural Leather Collagen True leather is made from animal skin, often cattle hide. The main constituent of animal skin is a protein called collagen. The building blocks of protein are amino acids, so the pyrolysis of collagen results in many ring structures such as pyrroles and indoles. Collagen is a high-sulfur protein, which explains the presence of methane thiol at the beginning of the pyrogram (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Collagen, 600°C.

Rawhide and Leather As rawhide and leather are mostly collagen, their pyrograms are similar. Differences are from additives and contaminants. Both the samples of leather and a rawhide had peaks for plasticizers (Figure 2).

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