Leather Thermal and Environmental Parameters in Fire Conditions

The thermal decomposition of leather-product combustion produces some inflammable and harmful compounds after tanning, fat liquoring, dyeing, and finishing processes. These organic compounds are ignited and release a lot of toxic gases and smoke in fire conditions, polluting the atmosphere air. On this account, it is very important to know leather safety performance for fire prevention. The flammability and thermal stability of types of leather at thermal expositions stimulating fire conditions were analyzed. Five types of leather were used in experimental testing, four of animal origin and an artificial one. Results showed that, in the analyzed heat exposure, the highest average heat-release rate (174 kW/m(2)) and smoke generation, and the lowest temperature of the beginning of thermal decomposition, were recorded for the artificial leather. Leather flammability essentially depends on the type of applied energy stimulus, as well as hide composition and origin. A possible cause for differences in the obtained results of the leather analyses is the percentage of certain leather components and their chemical composition.