Leather decay – model samples evaluation
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Archaeological leather is a very neglected material in spite of the frequency of findings. Little is known about the mechanism of leather degradation. New and historical leather are influenced by oxidation and hydrolysis whereas archaeological ones are mainly affected by soil degradation and biodegradation. The aim of the survey is to provide detailed pieces of knowledge of their decay. Methods for evaluation and analysis of new and historical leather (organoleptic examination, fibre cohesion, pH, shrinkage temperature, SEM-EDX, determination of tensile strength) we used because there are no methods verified for archaeological leather analysis. The results for the new and artificially aged leathers were compared. The effect of soil on the leather was concluded and methods applicable to analyze this type of material are presented as well. |