ASTM D8137-18
(Practice)Practice for Accelerated Aging of Leather
Practice for Accelerated Aging of Leather
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
6.1 A substantial difficulty in using leather in applications requiring very long service lives is estimating how well a particular leather will actually hold up in service. Such applications may include use in musical instruments such as pipe organs, bookbinding leathers, etc. Use of leather in pipe organs in the past (prior to approximately 1930) demonstrated service lives frequently over 100 years, and the consequences of short service lives can result in extremely costly repairs. Many post-1930 leathers have had short service lives (as little as 15 years) due to the use of various more modern tannages and processing methods. Identifying exactly what tannage and processing was used in a particular leather and how successful this tanning and processing was can be very difficult. Failure of bookbinding and upholstery leathers formed the impetus for extensive work by leather chemists in the 1940s to identify tests that could be used to verify the durability of leather samples. Early studies by Cheshire3 and Frey & Beebe4 resulted in tests relating the rate of deterioration of leathers having known durabilities from long-term storage of samples, to the deterioration experienced by laboratory exposure of specimens to known contents of acid gases in air or oxygen. They were considered to be applicable to leathers having a wide range of tannages and processing. Later work published by Piltingsrud & Tancous5 described their modifications to those tests. Further work directed towards verifying the durability of leathers used in pipe organs resulted in the practice described in this document. The appropriateness of its use for any given leather samples must be determined by the leather chemists utilizing the practice. This practice may not be applicable for leathers having unusual tannages or treatments. Estimates of service lives made using this practice are speculative, as it would take many decades of natural aging to verify the results (see comments in Section 11).
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is based on studies relating the rate of deterioration of leathers having known durabilities from long-term storage of samples, to the deterioration experienced by laboratory exposure of specimens to known contents of acid gases in air or oxygen. This is accomplished by measuring the deterioration (reduction in tensile strength) of leather specimens when they are subjected to exposure to a mixture of air, moisture and sulfur dioxide at a given temperature and pressure and for a given exposure time. The loss of tensile strength of the specimens resulting from this exposure is compared to that experienced by a variety of leathers having various tannages and having historically long and short service lifetimes. The initial tensile strength and the degree of loss of tensile strength is related to what service life can be anticipated from a given leather.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D8137 − 18
Practice for
1
Accelerated Aging of Leather
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8137; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D2209 Test Method for Tensile Strength of Leather
1.1 This practice is based on studies relating the rate of
3. Terminology
deterioration of leathers having known durabilities from long-
term storage of samples, to the deterioration experienced by
3.1 For definitions of leather terms used in this Practice
laboratory exposure of specimens to known contents of acid
refer to Terminology D1517.
gases in air or oxygen. This is accomplished by measuring the
deterioration (reduction in tensile strength) of leather speci-
4. Reagents
mens when they are subjected to exposure to a mixture of air,
4.1 Sulfur Dioxide (SO ), Anhydrous, 99.9 % pure.
2
moistureandsulfurdioxideatagiventemperatureandpressure
and for a given exposure time. The loss of tensile strength of
4.2 Air, From compressor, filtered, stored at ~21°C (satu-
the specimens resulting from this exposure is compared to that rated water vapor conditions) 90 to 100 psi delivery pressure.
experienced by a variety of leathers having various tannages
and having historically long and short service lifetimes. The 5. Summary of Practice
initial tensile strength and the degree of loss of tensile strength
5.1 Specimens are prepared and placed in a pressure cham-
is related to what service life can be anticipated from a given
ber containing known or constant quantities of air, moisture
leather.
and SO . They are held in the chamber at a constant tempera-
2
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ture for a given time period. After that processing, the tensile
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
strengths of the specimens are measured along with the tensile
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
strengths of unprocessed specimens of the same leather. The
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
loss of tensile strength resulting from the processing relative to
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
that of the unprocessed specimens (%) is determined and may
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
be directly compared to that of other leathers considered for an
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
application. Where applicable, the results may also be consid-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ered as the basis for projected service lifetimes as shown in
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Section 11.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
6. Significance and Use
6.1 A substantial difficulty in using leather in applications
2. Referenced Documents
requiring very long service lives is estimating how well a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
particular leather will actually hold up in service. Such
D1517 Terminology Relating to Leather
applications may include use in musical instruments such as
D1610 Practice for Conditioning Leather and Leather Prod-
pipe organs, bookbinding leathers, etc. Use of leather in pipe
ucts for Testing
organs in the past (prior to approximately 1930) demonstrated
D1813 Test Method for Measuring Thickness of Leather
service lives frequently over 100 years, and the consequences
Test Specimens
of short service lives can result in extremely costly repairs.
Many post-1930 leathers have had short service lives (as little
as 15 years) due to the use of various more modern tannages
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D31 on Leather and
and processing methods. Identifying exactly what tannage and
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D31.05 on Upholstery.
processing was used in a particular leather and how successful
Current edition approved June 15, 2018. Published August 2018. DOI: 10.1520/
D8137-18
this tanning and processing was can be very difficult. Failure of
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
bookbinding and upholstery leathers formed the impetus for
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
extensive work by leather chemists in the 1940s to identify
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. tests that could be used to verify the durability of leather
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.