Thermochromism for Smart Leathers

Abstract

The Leather industry globally is poised for enhancing the unit value realization. With availability of raw material remaining more or less constant, conferring customer desired smart properties to leather enhances the value of leather. It is also quite possible that such new features would enable leather to enter unexplored territories such as those envisaged for smarter textiles. An innovation in visual stimulus creates immediate appeal and utility, leading to consumer perception of owning it. A survey of such stimulus-based innovations of immediate appeal to people indicated a preference to thermochromism – a reversible color change influenced by temperature. While such applications are predominantly associated with sensor applications, the same as a concept for leather has not yet emerged. This paper reports synthesis of a rare earth doped transition metal complex that had a color shift from pale pink to dark green in the temperature range of 200 – 210oC. This colorant could be applied through conventional finishing techniques on leather and is envisaged to have applications in safety products such as heat resistant gloves.