Use of Gelatin Binder as a Base Coat in the Finishing Process of Tanned Rabbit Skin

Research on the use of bovine split hide gelatin protein binder for the finishing process of rabbit crust skin has been carried out. This research aimed to study the use of gelatin as a protein binder as a substitute for patent binders for finishing tanned rabbit crust skin and to obtain the best percentage of using gelatin as a protein binder in the finishing process of tanned rabbit skins. The materials used in this study were 20 sheets of Rex rabbit skin with an area of 21.25 square feet (sqft), bovine split hide gelatin, casein, and tanning agents. The research treatment was T1 base coat solution plus 50 parts of gelatin, T2 plus 70 parts, T3 plus 90 parts and TK using casein binder as much as 70 parts with five repetitions. Data were analyzed using a one-way completely randomized design, if there were differences between treatments it was continued with Duncan's Multiple Region tests. The results showed that there were significant differences in each parameter except for the drop test before the base coat. The results for the drop test before base coat ranged from 12-14 seconds, after base coat 18-33 seconds, tensile strength around 9.31-13.72 kgf/m2, elongation 41.27-60.28%, water absorption after 2 hours 206.15-228.81%, water absorption after 24 hours 212.43 -241.43%, wet rubbing resistance slightly fading (3/4), dry rubbing resistance not fading (4) and ring 25 flexibility between 4.6-5.2 cm. Gelatin from bovine split hide can replace casein as a binder in finishing solutions. The use of gelatin up to 70 parts can be used in the finishing solution for rabbit crust skin and can replace casein.