Standardization News

If a leather article such as a shoe or a glove were left next to a heater for an extended period of time, would the finish remain soft and flexible or would it change color and develop cracks within the leather finish? A new ASTM International standard will help to answer that question, giving manufacturers a clear method to predict and prevent such problems.

D7912, Test Method for Resistance of Finish to Heat Aging (Finish Stability), will provide a test for predicting the long-term performance of a leather article. The test will indicate the presence of cracks, parting of the finish from the leather and tackiness after a specimen has been tested in a circulating air oven.

"It is critical that leather and leather products maintain their useful properties even after prolonged exposure to heat," says ASTM member Kadir Donmez, senior research associate, University of Cincinnati Leather Research Laboratory.

Donmez notes that D7912 can be applied to a wide variety of leather articles, from gloves and footwear to upholstery leather used in automobiles and aircraft. The new standard will be used by leather producers, end use manufacturers and testing laboratories.

D7912 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D31.05 on Upholstery, part of ASTM International Committee D31 on Leather. All interested parties are invited to participate in the standards developing activities of D31.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Sales (phone: 877-909-ASTM; sales@astm.org).

CONTACT Technical Information: Kadir Donmez, Leather Research Laboratory, University of Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio • Phone: 513-242-6300 | ASTM Staff: Ashley Wiand • Phone: 610-832-9551