Preparation and application of castor oil/nano-TiO2 composite fatliquoring agent via a Pickering emulsion method

Castor oil in water emulsions known as fatliquors is used for the lubrication of tanned leather fibers to get softness and also to improve the strength properties. Fatliquoring agents are usually obtained by chemical modification. In this research, fatliquoring agent based on castor oil was prepared using nano-TiO2 as emulsifying agent by mechanical mixing. So castor oil/nano-TiO2 composite fatliquoring agent (CTF) was obtained via Pickering emulsion method. The presence of nano-TiO2 resulted in a stable emulsion. The results of transmission electron microscope showed that the castor oil was surrounded by nano-TiO2. Finally, CTF was applied in the leather fatliquoring process of goatskin garment. Physical and mechanical properties of leather fatliquored by CTF were improved compared with those of leather fatliquored by sulfated castor oil. CTF was easily biodegradable as compared to modified castor oil fatliquoring agent. Composite fatliquoring agent leads to reduction of many chemicals utilized to get the lightfastness of leather for adding nano-TiO2.