Synthetic Tanning
noun
Definition of Synthetic Tanning
Synthetic tanning is not used independently but as a part of a combination tanning process, with either vegetable tanning or chrome tanning.
The method uses tanning agents like phenols, formaldehyde, and acrylates, all produced industrially.
A key downside of synthetic tanning is its sensitivity to moisture and heat. If synthetic-tanned leather gets rained on, the moisture will migrate through the finish into the perforation holes, eventually damaging it.
Likewise, if the synthetic tanned leather product receives direct heat from the sun, the matrix water, which is chemically bound in leather, will start to boil and cause the leather to harden and shrink.
Example of Synthetic Tanning in a Sentence
"During my childhood, this area was the site of multiple synthetic tanning factories that emptied their waste into the river."
Synonyms: chrome-free tanning
Related Terms for Synthetic Tanning
