Nanocomposite based on erucic acid modified montmorillonite/sulfited rapeseed oil: Preparation and application in leather

• The erucic acid modified montmorillonite (EA-Mt) was successfully obtained.
• Modified montmorillonite improved the thermal stability of nanocomposite.
• Nanocomposites containing EA-Mt were used as a leather fatliquoring agent.
• The leather with EA-Mt had superior softness, physical and mechanical properties.
• The flame retardancy of leather was improved by erucic acid modified montmorillonite.

Montmorillonite was modified by cis-13-docosenoic acid also known as erucic acid via intercalation reaction. The as-prepared erucic acid modified montmorillonite (EA-Mt), rapeseed oil, ethylene diamine, acrylic, and sodium bisulfite were employed to prepare the EA-Mt/modified rapeseed oil (EA-Mt/MRO) nanocomposite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that erucic acid successfully intercalated into the interlayer space of montmorillonite (Mt) with the basal spacing of Mt increasing from 1.24 nm to 1.48 nm. The thermal stability of EA-Mt/MRO nanocomposite was effectively improved after adding the EA-Mt by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Then, EA-Mt/MRO nanocomposite as fatliquoring agent was applied in the leather fatliquoring process of goatskin garment. Erucic acid intercalated Mt was dispersed on the collagen fibers of the leather as confirmed by SEM and EDX. The flame retardancy of the leather treated with EA-Mt/MRO nanocomposite was found to be improved in a significant way. Compared with that of leather treated with modified rapeseed oil (MRO), the highest LOI value of leather treated with EA-Mt/MRO reached 27.9% from 23.7% with 8% EA-Mt. The leather had superior softness, physical and mechanical properties.