Leather pH value determination

Determination of pH value in skin
Determination of pH value in skin

Since human skin has a certain amount of acidic properties, this prevents the development of many diseases that can be transmitted through the skin. In textile products, including leather products, the pH value is neutral, ie 7 or slightly acidic, ie below 7, which is not harmful to the skin. However, if the pH values ​​exceed 7, such textile products easily damage human skin and cause allergic reactions.

The outer surface of the skin is composed of sweat, fatty acids and amino acids. This acidic surface completely envelops the body and prevents the formation of bacterial or fungal infections. The acidity value is measured by pH. The ideal pH value is 5.5.

At high pH values, the skin surface loses its protective properties and causes water and moisture loss of the skin. This causes irritations and allergies.

Chemicals used during the processing of leather and dyes used for coloring can increase the pH of the leather. This is undesirable for manufacturers. Determination of pH value in the skin is made for this purpose.

Accredited laboratories also perform tests to determine the pH of the skin within the scope of specific tests. In these tests, national and international standards are taken into consideration. The standards for determining the pH of the skin are as follows:

  • TS EN ISO 4045 Skin - Chemical tests - pH determination
  • ISO 4045 (IULTCS / IUC 11) Skin - Chemical tests - pH determination

These standards include a test method for measuring the pH of skin solutions, which can be applied to any skin product. This standard is applied to determine the pH and rate of variation of an aqueous skin extract.