shrink temperature
The water temperature at which a specimen of
leather begins to shrink. Shrink temperature will
differ for each kind and degree of tannage,
although, in general, tannage usually increases
the resistance of a leather to heat in the wet
condition. Most chrome-tanned leathers are
resistant to the action of boiling water, while
vegetable-tanned leathers are not. If leather that
cannot withstand the boiling test is placed in
cold water and the temperature of the water is
gradually increased one degree at a time. a point
will be reached where the leather suddenly begins
to shrink, which is the "shrink temperature."
Shrink temperature is generally taken as a measure
of the degree of tannage of a leather. (291 , 363 )
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