CPC C14B 1/30 (2013.01) [B68F 1/00 (2013.01); C14B 1/44 (2013.01); C14B 1/58 (2013.01); C14C 11/00 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
1. A process for manufacturing a three-dimensional leather object, the process comprising:
providing a piece of leather, the piece of leather having a flesh side and a grain side;
applying a hardener additive onto the flesh side of the piece of leather, wherein the hardener additive is activated at an activation temperature of approximately 40° C. to 50° C., wherein the hardener additive comprises thiophene, sodium diocytl sulphosuccinate, alcohols, fatty alcohols C12-C18 that are even numbered and ethoxylates;
drying the hardener additive;
providing a shape matching a shape of the three-dimensional leather object;
positioning the flesh side of the piece of leather on the provided shape;
introducing the shape of the piece of leather inside a vacuum sack such that the vacuum sack generates a membrane applied on the grain side of the piece of leather;
applying a rough vacuum in the vacuum sack such that the flesh side of the piece of leather adheres onto the shape;
heating the vacuum sack with the shape and the piece of leather until the piece of leather reaches the activation temperature of the hardener additive;
applying the vacuum progressively during the step of heating so as to progressively compress the piece of leather onto the shape until a desired shape is obtained;
cooling the vacuum sack with the shape and the piece of leather until the piece of leather reaches a temperature of approximately 25° C. under vacuum conditions;
extracting the shape with the piece of leather from the vacuum sack; and
removing the piece of leather from the shape such that the piece of leather has a shape of the three-dimensional leather object.
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