Keratin General
Keratin is one of the most important components of animal skin and forms the outermost layer of the epidermis.
Many of you are probably familiar with this active ingredient from other contexts. But most people don't know exactly what keratin is and why it's so important.
So here is a little input on the topic of keratin.
Occurrence and properties of keratin
Keratin is a collective term for various water-insoluble fibrous proteins, which are divided into different protein forms. The protein's most important function is stability and elasticity. Keratin is found in an incredible number of cells in humans and animals and is produced independently by the body. It is found in hair, nails, horn, and the outermost layer of skin. It is a very resilient protein, particularly resistant to bacteria, insoluble in water, and withstands both low and extremely high temperatures.
Leather and keratin
Although keratin possesses these special properties, it is attacked and removed as completely as possible by acid, alkali, and sulfide solutions during the tanning process. However, the special elasticity and stability of our leather products are retained.
Our products are made from leather of varying degrees of softness and hardness, which is also related to the keratin content.
additional sources (accessed: 16.01.2019)
- lederpedia(dot)de/rohhaut_rohware/chemischer_aufbau_der_tierischen_haut
- de(dot)wikipedia(dot)org/wiki/Keratine
