Preliminary Study on the Adhesiveness Properties of Hide Glue

Adhesives based on collagen extracted from the skin, tendons, cartilage, bones of animals and fish have been widely used over time as binders and consolidating agents for various organic and inorganic materials. The use of these types of adhesives or glues or gelatins in the restoration activity has been practiced by restorers due to their properties, but also to the special requirements of reversibility of treatments that are stipulated in national and international norms specific to the restoration of heritage objects. For this purpose, the technology of gelatin extraction from bovine hide was studied, and then gelatins were characterized in terms of chemical properties (ash, total nitrogen, amino nitrogen, dermal substance, pH of analytical solution) and gluing experiments were conducted on collagen substrates (leather and parchment, newly made specifically for the restoration activity and some samples of historical parchment, pieces of parchment detached from the back of a heritage object) and characterized in terms of physical-mechanical properties (shear strength and peel strength). Gelatins made from bovine hide were also compared to a commercial product, rabbit glue, a material frequently used in the field of restoration.