Fecha de publicación: -- Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE Leather waste was treated with GPS, an acrylate-based emulsion prepared from glycidyl methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, and stearyl methacrylate. Adhesive formulations were prepared by varying the leather waste amount and used as a leather adhesive. Peel strength and lap shear strength were comparable to a commercially available solvent-based adhesive.

ABSTRACT
Conventional solvent-borne adhesives used in leather processing raise significant environmental concerns due to high volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and reliance on toxic solvents. The temperature-sensitive nature of leather precludes the use of high-temperature curing waterborne adhesive systems. Furthermore, leather waste (LW) accumulation presents serious environmental threats. To address these challenges, a sustainable waterborne composite adhesive is developed via aza-Michael and amine-epoxide reaction pathways, enabling low-temperature curing at 40°C–50°C. The incorporation of PEGMA, GMA, and stearyl methacrylate (SM) facilitates the preparation of stable emulsions that cross-link efficiently with LW, yielding GPS-LW100, GPS-LW150, and GPS-LW200 composite adhesives. Mechanical evaluation reveals T-peel strengths of up to 0.87–1.22 N/mm and lap shear strengths of up to 427–622 kPa, meeting the performance (0.70 N/mm and 390 kPa, respectively) of commercially available synthetic rubber-based adhesives. Thermal analysis confirms broad stability from −23°C to 240°C, and the adhesives exhibit phase change material (PCM) behavior, offering potential for passive thermal regulation. Solar-assisted curing further reduces the environmental footprint without compromising performance. This organic solvent-free, low-energy platform presents a scalable, high-performance alternative for leather processing, footwear, and thermoregulated textile applications.