What is Tanning?
Tanning is the process of treating animal skins to produce leather. Which is more durable and less susceptible to decomposition. There are many different types of processes for tanning and producing leather.
How is Tanning Achieved?
Animal skins are, in part, composed of a protein, collagen, which is easily degraded by bacteria and fungi. Tanning stops the process of decay by changing the nature of the protein through a chemical reaction.
Vegetable Tanning
The Aboriginals used Vegetable-tanning method. The process uses the earth environment such as tree bark, wood, leaves, and more.
Traditionally to achieve tanning you need something called a tannin. A tannin is a type of biomolecule, an astringent, bitter plant poly-phenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins (as well as other organic compounds)
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Traditionally to achieve tanning you need something called a tannin. A tannin is a type of biomolecule, an astringent, bitter plant poly-phenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins (as well as other organic compounds)
.
Three Major Different Classes of Tannin
Chrome Tanned Leather (a modern way to do things)
It is more supple and pliable than vegetable-tanned leather and does not discolor or lose shape as drastically in water as vegetable-tanned. It is also known as wet-blue for its color derived from the chromium. More esoteric colors are possible using chrome tanning.