Difference between revisions of "PH value"

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Another reason are alkaline [[leather cleaner|cleaners]]. Most household cleaners are alkaline, because of the good cleaning effect. However, leather cleaners should not be alkaline, which is technically possible, but not considered by all manufacturers.
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Another reason are alkaline [[leather cleaner|cleaners]]. Most household cleaners are alkaline, because they have a good cleaning effect. However, leather cleaners should not be alkaline, which is technically possible, but not considered by all manufacturers.
  
The [[leather care]] should also restore or maintain the acidic condition. Particularly, when old leather is contaminated with mold, acetic acid as a pH regulator is excellently suitable for removal and prevention. Also in the case of a restoration of leather, a pH-value regulation is as important as the [[Oils & fats in the leather industry|re-greasing]] to make the leather more resistant to environmental influences.  
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The [[leather care]] should also restore or maintain the acidic condition. Particularly, when old leather is contaminated with mold, acetic acid as a pH regulator is particularly suitable for removal and prevention. Also in the case of a restoration of leather, regulating the pH-value just as important as the [[Oils & fats in the leather industry|re-greasing]] to make the leather more resistant to environmental influences.  
  
 
However, there is also a limit to how much acid a leather is capable of. Therefore, when regulating the pH, always be very careful not to damage the leather. A characteristic feature of book bindings, which can be observed in libraries, is [[red decay]], when sulfur dioxide reacts from the air in the leather to sulfuric acid, which irreparably erodes [[Leather book cover|book covers]]. Sulfuric acid is one of the strongest acids and is far below the minimum pH-value of 3.5 for leather.
 
However, there is also a limit to how much acid a leather is capable of. Therefore, when regulating the pH, always be very careful not to damage the leather. A characteristic feature of book bindings, which can be observed in libraries, is [[red decay]], when sulfur dioxide reacts from the air in the leather to sulfuric acid, which irreparably erodes [[Leather book cover|book covers]]. Sulfuric acid is one of the strongest acids and is far below the minimum pH-value of 3.5 for leather.

Revision as of 08:51, 12 February 2017

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The pH-value of leather

The pH of a substance means, at ten-logarithmic intervals, how acidic or basic this substance is. Distilled water is defined as having a pH of 7, so that a substance with a pH of 8 (such as seawater) is ten times more basic and a substance with a pH of 5 (such as coffee) is one hundred times more acidic. Coca Cola has a pH of 2 and is therefore one hundred thousand times more acidic than distilled water.

In the production of leather and leather care, the pH value is of importance as leather is produced with a pH of about 4.5 to 5.5. This pH ensures that the fat and tannins bound in the leather are kept.

With the aging of the leather, the acid-base ratio shifts to the alkaline (above pH 7), which makes the leather unstable. The leather darkens, becomes hard and brittle. The shift is due to age, humidity, sun, but also by perspiration (skin, hair contact with car and furniture leather, sweat by feet in shoes (daily between 100-200 ml), hands in gloves or sweated collars of leather jackets).


Moebel-Oxidation-003.jpg

Moebel-Oxidation-002.jpg Moebel-Oxidation-001.jpg

Typical damage due to skin and hair contact in furniture (head and armrests).

 

Lenkrad-Oxidation-001.jpg

Lenkrad-Oxidation-002.jpg Lenkrad-Schimmel-001.jpg

Steering wheels also react to skin contact with time. Due to the pH shift, the leather is also more susceptible to mold.

 

Schaltknauf-Oxidation-001.jpg

Auto-Armlehne-Oxidation-001.jpg Auto-Armlehne-Oxidation-002.jpg

Skin-damaged car armrests and a shift knob.

 

Another reason are alkaline cleaners. Most household cleaners are alkaline, because they have a good cleaning effect. However, leather cleaners should not be alkaline, which is technically possible, but not considered by all manufacturers.

The leather care should also restore or maintain the acidic condition. Particularly, when old leather is contaminated with mold, acetic acid as a pH regulator is particularly suitable for removal and prevention. Also in the case of a restoration of leather, regulating the pH-value just as important as the re-greasing to make the leather more resistant to environmental influences.

However, there is also a limit to how much acid a leather is capable of. Therefore, when regulating the pH, always be very careful not to damage the leather. A characteristic feature of book bindings, which can be observed in libraries, is red decay, when sulfur dioxide reacts from the air in the leather to sulfuric acid, which irreparably erodes book covers. Sulfuric acid is one of the strongest acids and is far below the minimum pH-value of 3.5 for leather.


Average pH values
(Source: Wikipedia, License: GFDL)
Substance pH-value Type
battery acid <0
stomach acid (sober stomach) 1,0–1,5 acid
lemon juice 2,4
Coca Cola 2–3
fruit juice of the shadow morello 2,7
vinegar 2,9
orange and apple juice 3,5
wine 4,0
sour milk 4,5
beer 4,5–5,0
acid rain < 5,0
coffee 5,0
tea 5,5
rain (natural rainfall) 5,6
mineral water 6,0
milk 6,5
water (depending on hardness) 6,0–8,5
NEUTRAL 7,0
human saliva 6,5–7,4
blood 7,4 basic
sea water 7,5–8,4
pancreas juice (intestinal juice) 8,3
soap 9,0–10,0
household ammonia 11,5
bleach 12,5
cement 12,6
sodium hydroxide solution (caustic soda) 13,5–15



Additional information


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