Standardization News

ASTM International’s committee on leather (D31) is developing a proposed standard that will help to assess the effect of various soling agents on leather. 

The primary aim of the proposed standard (WK74216) is to assess the degree of resistance and cleanability of a leather surface after it has been in contact with potential staining agents. Among the effects covered in the standard are discoloration, changes in gloss, blistering, softening, swelling, and loss of adhesion. 

“The proposed standard will be used to help determine the effect that substances such as ketchup or scotch whisky may have on leather surfaces, and whether these surfaces can be cleaned without leaving stains behind,” says ASTM International member Kadir Donmez, associate director, Leather Research Laboratory, University of Cincinnati. “Anyone who has or uses leather items that come in contact with different types of fluids will benefit from this standard.” 

Donmez notes that the method described in the proposed standard has recently been used to evaluate the cleanability of hand creams and sprays intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

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