ARS | Publication request: Nondestructive Evaluation of Leather Quality by Means of Acoustic Emission and Airborne Ultrasonics

Submitted to: American Leather Chemists Association Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: October 30, 2006
Publication Date: June 20, 2007
Citation: Godinez, V., Liu, C., Latona, N.P., Hanson, M., Finlayson, R.D. 2007. Nondestructive Evaluation of Leather Quality by Means of Acoustic Emission and Airborne Ultrasonics [abstract]. American Leather Chemists Association Meeting. p. 34.

Technical Abstract: Quality control and assurance procedures in the leather industry are currently achieved by destructive methods performed on finished leather in order to determine material properties. These destructive tests lessen the square footage of the material since they are performed prior to leather being made into a final product, therefore infringing the manufacturer's total profit. This profit loss could be avoided by using nondestructive methods that evaluate the leather properties during the manufacturing process in an accurate and efficient manner. Pioneering research in this field performed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Physical Acoustics Corporation (PAC) has demonstrated that acoustic methods can be used for evaluating material properties of leather. The latest research has shown that Acoustic Emission (AE) and Airborne Ultrasonics (UT) are the leading methods for evaluating of the leather quality nondestructively during the manufacturing process. Implementation of these methods in the manufacturing process could save a considerable amount of money, decrease the use of chemicals, reduce production time, increase the value of the leather and increase quality.