Leather and Footwear Journal

Volume 13, no 2

Contents
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Porous Gelatin Hydrogels Based on Clay Promoted by Calcium Mineralization
- Pages 101-110
  Tao ZHANG^1,2, Ying GONG^1,3, Xiaoling LIU¹, Bo TENG¹, Wuyong CHEN^1*
  - ¹National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, China, email: wuyong.chen@163.com
  - ²Department of Chemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, 01069, Germany, email: Tao.Zhang@mailbox.tudresden.de
  - ³College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, 650500, Kunming, China, email: gongying_2004@163.com
  ABSTRACT. A bioclean method was proposed to prepare porous gelatin-based hydrogels using clay as porogen, water as solvent and calcium as promoter: firstly, laponite clay and gelatin were individually dissolved in deionized water to get aqueous solutions; then the two solutions were blended and exposed to -20°C for 24 h to form physically crosslinked hydrogel; finally the hydrogel was soaked in a calcium chloride solution at room temperature for 48 h to obtain matrixes with well-defined voids. The gelatin molecules intercalated into the clay slices gaining uniform composites, which were confirmed by atomic force microscopy, infrared spectrum, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. As proved by scanning electron microscopy study, in the matrix containing 5% gelatin and 2% clay, the voids were interconnecting, and the size of pores focused on a range of 100-200 ìm. Such matrix might serve as scaffolds for tissue engineering because of its typical pore structure and size distribution. Additionally, such material could be used as wound dressings, for it was able to provide a fine moist environment for a surface.
  
  KEY WORDS: hydrogel, gelatin, clay
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Study on the Improvement of Physical-Mechanical Characteristics in the EVA/PVC Blends Irradiation with Electron Beam in the Presence of Triallylisocyanurate
- Pages 111-124
  Maria Daniela STELESCU¹, Dana GURAU¹, Gabriela CRACIUN², Elena MANAILA²*
  - ¹National Research & Development Institute for Textiles and Leather, Division: Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu St., 031215, Bucharest, Romania
  - ²National Research & Development Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor, 077125, Magurele, Romania, email: elena.manaila@yahoo.com
  ABSTRACT. The paper presents irradiation of thermoplastic elastomers based on ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticized with small ionizing radiation doses, in the presence of triallylisocyanurate (TAC), for the purpose of improving their characteristics. Results obtained from the study have shown that by irradiating blends of EVA/PVC in presence of TAC, new materials with improved properties have been obtained, as a result of crosslinking reactions and reorientation of sample particles under the influence of accelerated electrons. The optimal irradiation dose and the optimal TAC concentration can be chosen depending on the composition of each blend and on the applications of the final product.
  
  KEY WORDS: EVA, PVC, TAC, irradiation, physico-mechanical properties
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Shoe Last Grading and Experimental Estimation of Dimensional Variation Using Delcam CRISPIN 3D Last Maker
- Pages 125-138
  Mariana DRISCU*, Mariana COSTEA
  - "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Textile, Leather and Industrial Management, 53 D. Mangeron, 700050 - Iasi, Romania, email: mcocea@tex.tuiasi.ro, mariana.pastina@yahoo.com
  ABSTRACT. This article presets a study regarding dimensional changes of shoe lasts, using Delcam CRISPIN Last Maker, Grade function. The purpose is to obtain shoe lasts for inferior and superior size numbers to the one from the database obtained with ModelTracer and Last Maker software. Using the computer in last modelling activities enables an increase in performance for footwear producers by reducing the working time with testing the prototypes. Automatic grading provides the footwear producers with all size numbers of lasts that have to be produced. The presented studies ensure work accuracy and the application's utility for footwear manufacturers.
  
  KEY WORDS: shoe last, size number, size systems, width, grading
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Preparation of a Colored β-Cyclodextrin Fragrance Agent for Leather Finishing
- Pages 139-148
  Xiaoling LIU^1,2, Xiaoyan ZHANG¹, Wuyong CHEN^1,2*, Carmen Cornelia GAIDAU³, Lucretia MIU³
  - ¹National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China, email: LXLing0@163.com
  - ²The Key Laboratory of the Education Ministry of Leather Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China, email: wuyong.chen@163.com
  - ³INCDTP - Division: Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu St, sector 3, 031215, Bucharest, Romania, email: carmen_gaidau@hotmail.com
  ABSTRACT. Perfume β-cyclodextrin inclusion (P-β-CD) used for leather finishing has been reported already. However, when P-β-CD was directly applied in finishing of leather, some white point would appear on the leather surface because of the white of inclusion compound, which limited its application ultimately. In order to solve the problem, a colored β-cyclodextrin fragrance agent (C-P-β-CD) was prepared through P-β-CD dyed with a reactive dye. Firstly, the P-β-CD was prepared with rose oil and β-cyclodextrin by a saturated solution stirring method, and then the obtained P-β-CD was reacted with a reactive dye to get a colored inclusion. The optimal dyeing conditions of P-β-CD are as follows: the dosage of NaCl is 40g/L, the dye 3.0%, the Na2CO3 15g/L, and the dyeing temperature at 60°C. In addition, the C-P-β-CD was applied in finishing process for fragrant leather and the flavor concentration volatilized from treated leather was evaluated by sensory test. The results demonstrated that the C-P-β-CD could well solve the problem of white spot on the surface of dark color leather with P-β- CD, and the lifetime of leather fragrance was still up to 10 days when the leather with C-P-β-CD was stored under conditions of higher temperature and UV intensity.
  
  KEY WORDS: leather, β-cyclodextrin, dyeing
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Stabilometric Assessment: Implications for the Prescription of Medical Devices
- Pages 149-162
  Gabriel STAN¹*, Daniel PETCU², Gheorghe BERIJAN²
  - ¹Elias Emergency University Hospital, Department of Orthopedics-Traumatology, 17 Marasti Blvd., Bucharest, email: gabisus2000@yahoo.com
  - ²National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather - Division: Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu St., Bucharest, Romania, email: icpi@icpi.ro
  ABSTRACT. The medical literature defines posture by positioning and orientation of body segments relative to the direction of the gravitational field. Balance encompasses all static and dynamic actions performed by the body as a result of the interaction between postural control mechanisms in order to avoid falling. Maintaining a normal posture is a prerequisite for minimizing internal stress manifested in tissues. Stabilometry studies evolution, under static conditions, of the center of pressure, defined as the origin of the reaction force vector in relation to the support surface. The aging process or diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or pathomechanics, affecting posture by increasing instability and the risk of falls. There is medical evidence that demonstrates the positive effect of medical devices (orthopedic shoes or orthoses) on posture. An important role in prescribing and assessing the influence of medical devices on posture is that of stabilometry, namely assessing posture under static conditions. The article proposes to assess the main stabilometric parameters determined using AccuGait-AMTI force platform and to correlate them with technical characteristics of medical devices.
  
  KEY WORDS: stabilometry, posture, medical device
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