The use of black wattle tannin–based products in vegetable leather tanning is beneficial in several ways, whether due to greater sustainability, enhanced strength, or distinctive texture and color characteristics, among other advantages.
Currently, Seta offers a broad product portfolio that can be used in this process, allowing selection according to specific tanning needs and the intended purpose of the final articles.
These same tannins are also widely used in the retanning of wet-blue leathers, providing a more natural appearance and a more sustainable process.
Continue reading to discover eight Seta products based on acacia tannins, learn about their properties, and understand their application methods.
Enjoy your reading!
Properties and Applications of Acacia Tannins in Vegetable Tanning
1. Seta Sun
A universal extract option, Seta Sun has excellent penetration, enabling a fast process and providing a light-colored final article.
It also offers good filling, embossing, and sanding in the retanning of wet-blue leathers, as well as excellent grain firmness, and can be used in all formulations and systems.
How can it be applied?
-
For sole leather and bends: 25% to 35% based on pelt weight;
-
As a single tanning agent: 40% to 50% based on pelt weight;
-
For wet-blue leathers: 5% to 25% based on shaved weight.
2. Seta Sun N
Seta Sun N is also a universal-use extract with the same characteristics as Seta Sun, providing leathers with a natural coloration.
How can it be applied?
-
For sole leather and bends: 25% to 35% based on pelt weight;
-
As a single tanning agent: 40% to 50% based on pelt weight;
-
For wet-blue leathers: 5% to 25% based on shaved weight.
3. Seta Supersol Light
Seta Supersol Light is a clarified acacia extract. Its production uses a special selection of extremely fresh acacia bark, enabling the extraction of a tannin with very light color.
This extract has high penetration and is recommended for the initial stage of vegetable tanning, providing a very light shade to the final article, even when darker extracts or extracts from other species are used together in the process.
When used in wet-blue leather retanning, it offers good embossing, sanding, and filling, and can be applied in any type of system and formulation.
How can it be applied?
-
In the initial tanning process: 5% to 10% based on pelt weight;
-
As a single tanning agent for soles: 40% to 50% based on pelt weight;
-
For bends or sole leather: 25% to 35%;
-
For wet-blue retanning, especially for light dyeing: 5% to 25% based on shaved weight.
4. Seta RC
Seta RC is a natural acacia tannin extract with low astringency and good penetration in vegetable tanning processes. It can also be used in chrome tanning.
When used for retanning, it delivers finished leathers with high grain firmness and excellent filling, as well as good embossing and sanding, and a more pronounced vegetable look due to its high tannin content and natural characteristics.
How can it be applied?
-
As a single tanning agent for soles: 40% to 50% based on pelt weight;
-
For bends and sole leather: 25% to 35% based on pelt weight;
-
For wet-blue retanning, especially for brown and black dyeing: 5% to 25% based on shaved weight.
5. Seta STN
Seta STN is a natural tannin–based retanning agent that provides excellent sandability, touch equalization, good filling, and grain firmness.
How can it be applied?
This product has broad application and can be used on all types of leather, in combination with other retanning agents.
Usage rates depend on the type of leather:
-
Light vegetable leathers: 4% to 12% based on shaved weight;
-
Suede: 2% to 10% based on shaved weight;
-
Aniline leathers: 3% to 6% based on shaved weight.
6. Seta CH
Seta CH stands out as a modified, astringent acacia extract with fast penetration for use in vegetable tanning and wet-blue retanning. As a result, it provides excellent fiber compaction and filling, with a smooth and firm grain. In sole leather, it also delivers superior weight yield.
How can it be applied?
-
Used alone or with other vegetable extracts: 5% to 45% based on pelt weight;
-
In wet-blue retanning: 5% to 20% based on shaved weight.
7. Seta CH-1
Seta CH-1 is another astringent acacia tannin option that provides the same characteristics as Seta CH in both tanning and wet-blue retanning. It differs by imparting a greenish-brown color to vegetable leathers, highly appreciated by the market.
How can it be applied?
-
For soles and bends: 5% to 45% based on pelt weight;
-
For retanning: 5% to 20% based on shaved weight.
8. Seta TM
Finally, Seta TM is a modified acacia extract that imparts a brownish-orange color to vegetable leathers.
It has good filling capacity and excellent penetration. In addition to being ideal for vegetable leather tanning, it can also be used in wet-blue retanning.
How can it be applied?
This product can be used alone or in combination with other vegetable extracts in sole and bend tanning processes, at recommended rates of 5% to 45% based on pelt weight.
Count on Seta for Your Vegetable Tanning Process
To achieve maximum benefits from vegetable tanning with tannins, it is essential to use high-quality extracts. With this in mind, Seta works exclusively with premium-grade black wattle tannins.
Our tannins are obtained from sustainable and renewable sources, available in different shades and a wide range of options, as illustrated above with some of our main acacia tannin–based products.
In addition to 100% vegetable tannins, we also offer modified and synthetic tannins. Simply choose the ideal tannin type for your leather tanning process and enjoy all the benefits it provides.
With over 80 years of experience in the market, we are confident we can support you with our technological and sustainable solutions. Contact us through our website and get your questions answered about our products.
Learn what acacia tannin is | Wood chips
