Hide/polymer and leather/polymer composite materials formed by in situ polymerization of polymer precursors impregnated into hide and leather

摘要

Hide/leather-polymer composite materials are provided by the impregnation of polymer systems into interstitial void spaces in the collagen fiber network of the hide/leather precursors, providing a broad spectrum of composite materials possessing a wide variety of bulk mechanical properties. Preferably, the polymer systems employed in the inventive composites are bismaleimides, when high modulus, strength and flexural modulus are desired, and siloxane-based polymers, when elastomeric bulk properties are desired.