EN ISO 17186:2011

Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of surface coating thickness (ISO 17186:2011)

ISO 17186:2011 specifies a method for determining the thickness of the surface coating applied to leather when measured under zero compression. It is applicable to all types of leather.

Leder - Physikalische und mechanische Prüfungen - Bestimmung der Dicke der Oberflächendeckschicht (ISO 17186:2011)

Diese Internationale Norm legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Dicke der auf das Leder aufgebrachten Deckschicht fest, wobei sie bei der Messung nicht zusammengedrückt wird. Das Verfahren gilt für alle Lederarten.

Cuir - Essais physiques et mécaniques - Détermination de l'épaisseur du revêtement de surface (ISO 17186:2011)

L'ISO 17186:2011 spécifie une méthode pour déterminer l'épaisseur du revêtement de surface appliqué au cuir lorsque le mesurage s'effectue sous une pression nulle. Elle s'applique à tous les types de cuir.

Usnje - Fizikalni in mehanski preskusi - Ugotavljanje debeline površinskih premazov (ISO 17186:2011)

Ta mednarodni standard določa metodo za ugotavljanje debeline površinskih premazov, ki se nanesejo na usnje, ko je kompresija enaka nič. Uporablja se za vse vrste usnja.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Dec-2011
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Jun-2012
• ICS: 59.140.30 - Leather and furs
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 289 - Leather
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 289/WG 2 - Physical test methods
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 15-Dec-2011
• Due Date: 27-Dec-2011
• Completion Date: 15-Dec-2011
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 17186:2012 - Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of surface coating thickness (ISO 17186:2011)

Relations

• Replaces: EN ISO 17186:2002 - Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of surface coating thickness (ISO 17186:2002)
• Effective Date: 21-Dec-2011

Overview

EN ISO 17186:2011 is an international standard developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifically for the leather industry. It outlines a precise method for determining the thickness of surface coatings applied to leather under zero compression conditions. This standard applies to all types of leather and supports quality control, product development, and compliance with industry requirements.

The document supersedes the previous 2002 edition and introduces revised technical details and alternative measurement methods to improve accuracy and repeatability in assessing leather coatings. It is a crucial reference for laboratories, manufacturers, and quality assurance professionals involved in leather testing.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability
  EN ISO 17186:2011 specifies a standardized procedure for measuring the surface coating thickness on leather. It is applicable across all types of leather, regardless of the specific treatment or finish used.

• Methodology
  The standard describes two primary methods for measuring surface coating thickness under a microscope:

  • Method A: Measurement at multiple equidistant points along the leather cross-section. This method allows statistical analysis including standard deviation and confidence intervals, making it the preferred approach.
  • Method B: Measurement along parallel lines positioned between coating peaks and troughs. This method provides an averaged thickness but does not support detailed statistical evaluation.

• Instrumentation
  Measurements can be performed using:

  • Light microscopes equipped with calibrated scales or photographic/computer image analysis units.
  • Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) for coatings under 50 µm thickness, providing enhanced precision.

• Sample Preparation
  Precise sample cutting perpendicular to the coated surface is essential. Razor blades are used to obtain cross-sectional slices approximately 10 mm × 10 mm. Samples are conditioned and prepared following related ISO standards (ISO 2418 and ISO 2419).

• Calibration and Accuracy
  Calibration using grid standards with 10 µm accuracy is mandatory to ensure measurement reliability. Calibration must match the magnification and measurement conditions used.

• Expression of Results
  Coating thickness is expressed in micrometers with defined rounding conventions based on coating thickness range. Total thickness of the leather is also measured to calculate the coating as a percentage of total cross-section thickness.

Applications

• Quality Control
  Ensures consistent coating thickness for enhanced durability, appearance, and performance of leather products.

• Research & Development
  Enables material scientists and leather technologists to benchmark and optimize coating formulations.

• Compliance & Certification
  Manufacturers and suppliers can demonstrate conformity to international leather testing protocols by adhering to EN ISO 17186:2011.

• Leather Processing
  Provides critical data for assessing and improving finishing processes, particularly for automotive, upholstery, fashion, and footwear industries.

• Supplier Communication
  Facilitates clear measurement standards for surface coatings when specifying or procuring leather.

Related Standards

• ISO 2418 – Leather - Chemical, physical, mechanical, and fastness tests - Sampling location
• ISO 2419 – Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Sample preparation and conditioning
• EN ISO 17232 – Leather - Determination of chromium(III) content by atomic absorption spectroscopy
• IULTCS Test Methods – Leather testing standards developed by the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies

These complementary standards ensure comprehensive leather material characterization by covering preparation, sampling, and chemical analysis in addition to coating thickness.

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Keywords: EN ISO 17186:2011, leather surface coating thickness, leather testing standards, leather physical tests, coating thickness measurement, microscopy for leather, leather quality control, leather industry standards, ISO leather testing, CEN leather standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2012
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN ISO 17186:2003
Usnje - Fizikalni in mehanski preskusi - Ugotavljanje debeline površinskih
premazov (ISO 17186:2011)
Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of surface coating thickness
(ISO 17186:2011)
Leder - Physikalische und mechanische Prüfungen - Bestimmung der Dicke der
Oberflächendeckschicht (ISO 17186:2011)
Cuir - Essais physiques et mécaniques - Détermination de l'épaisseur du revêtement de
surface (ISO 17186:2011)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 17186:2011
ICS:
59.140.30 Usnje in krzno Leather and furs
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 17186
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2011
ICS 59.140.30 Supersedes EN ISO 17186:2002
English Version
Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of
surface coating thickness (ISO 17186:2011)
Cuir - Essais physiques et mécaniques - Détermination de Leder - Physikalische und mechanische Prüfungen -
l'épaisseur du revêtement de surface (ISO 17186:2011) Bestimmung der Dicke der Oberflächendeckschicht (ISO
17186:2011)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 14 December 2011.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2011 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 17186:2011: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3

Foreword
This document (EN ISO 17186:2011) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 289 “Leather", the
secretariat of which is held by UNI, in collaboration with IULTCS "International Union of Leather Technologists
and Chemists Societies".
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2012, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by June 2012.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 17186:2002.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 17186
IULTCS/IUP
Second edition
2011-12-15
Leather — Physical and mechanical
tests — Determination of surface coating
thickness
Cuir — Essais physiques et mécaniques — Détermination de
l'épaisseur du revêtement de surface

Reference number
ISO 17186:2011(E)
IULTCS/IUP 41:2011(E)
©
ISO 2011
ISO 17186:2011(E)
IULTCS/IUP 41:2011(E)
©  ISO 2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56  CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

ISO 17186:2011(E)
IULTCS/IUP 41:2011(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 17186 was prepared by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee
CEN/TC 289, Leather, in collaboration with the Physical Test Commission of the International Union of
Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IUP Commission, IULTCS), in accordance with the Agreement
on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
IULTCS, originally formed in 1897, is a world-wide organization of professional leather societies to further the
advancement of leather science and technology. IULTCS has three Commissions, which are responsible for
establishing international methods for the sampling and testing of leather. ISO recognizes IULTCS as an
international standardizing body for the preparation of test methods for leather.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 17186:2002), which has been technically
revised, particularly in Clause 6 with the addition of alternative methods of measurement and analysis.

ISO 17186:2011(E)
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
IULTCS/IUP 41:2011(E)
Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of
surface coating thickness
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for determining the thickness of the surface coating applied to
leather when measured under zero compression. It is applicable to all types of leather.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 2418, Leather — Chemical, physical and mechanical and fastness tests — Sampling location
ISO 2419, Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Sample preparation and conditioning
3 Principle
A section of leather is taken perpendicular to the coated surface. The thickness of the surface coating is
measured using a microscope and expressed both as a thickness and as a percentage of the total thickness.
4 Apparatus
4.1 Light microscope or scanning electron microscope, which can be operated with an object-field size
of 1 mm  1 mm, or lower, and is
 fitted with a camera-image unit connected to a computer (resolution of at least 500  500 pixels), or
 fitted with a photographical unit, or
 equipped with an eyepiece with a graduated scale (at least 100 scale marks).
NOTE 100 scale marks correspond to a scaling of 10 µm in the object-field dimension for an object-field size of
1 mm  1 mm.
For measurement of coating thicknesses of less than 50 µm, an object-field size of 0,4 mm  0,4 mm or lower
has to be used. For measurement of values of less than 15 µm, a scanning electron microscope with a
suitable object-field dimension should be used.
4.2 Razor blade.
4.3 Grid or similar calibration device, reading to at least 10 µm and suitable for use in the light
microscope or scanning electron microscope.
4.4 Coating unit, using sputter or evaporation, including a suitable element or alloy (e.g. gold) for coating,
if a scanning electron microscope is used.
4.5 Specimen stubs, suitable for a scanning electron microscope.
ISO 17186:2011(E)
IULTCS/IUP 41:2011(E)
5 Sampling and sample preparation
5.1 Sample in accordance with ISO 2418. Condition in accordance with ISO 2419.
5.2 Cut three test pieces of approximately 10 mm  10 mm. If there is a requirement for more than two
hides or skins to be tested in one batch, then only one test piece need be taken from each hide or skin,
provided that the overall total is not less than three pieces. Section each of the three test pieces as described
in 5.3.
5.3 Place the cutting edge of the razor blade (4.2) on the flesh side, with the blade perpendicular to the
leather surface, and press the blade through the whole thickness of the leather, ensuring that the blade
remains vertical. It is recommended that a new razor blade be used for each section.
If using a scanning electron microscope, stick a section prepared as described above onto a specimen stub
(4.5) with the cut surface uppermost. Coat the stub and section in the coating unit (4.4) so that a sufficient
image quality can be obtained.
6 Procedure
6.1 General descriptions
6.1.1 Principles of measurement
This International Standard describes two basic principles to measure the surface coating thickness.
Method A is based on
...