Synthesis and Application of a Novel Cationic Surfactant based on Quaternary Ammonium Salt for Leather Fatliquoring

A fatliquor is an indispensable agent for leather, giving softness, fullness and elasticity. A quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant (cetyl-dimethyl-(3-methacrylamide) propyl bromide (DMPC16)) was synthesised from N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) methacrylamide (DMAPMA) and hexadecane bromide by nucleophilic substitution reaction. The structure and properties of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant were characterised by FTIR, H-1-NMR, elemental analyser, TGA and surface tension analyser. Further, it was applied in the fatliquoring process of wet-white (Clariant EasyWhiteTan F-90) tanning system to test the physical and mechanical properties, softness, air permeability and absorptivity of the fatliquoring leather. The results showed that quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant was successfully prepared, and its surface tension was 31.87mN/m. The application tests showed that the absorption rate of fatliquor reached 97.8%. At the same time, the softness and physical and mechanical properties of the treated leather were improved, including softness increased by 109%, tensile strength increased by 17.2%, tear strength increased by 50.1%, and air permeability increased by 891.21L/(cm(2).h). The results showed that quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant had good fatliquoring properties in F-90 tanning system, which can improve the softness, tensile strength and tear strength of leather.