THE IULTCS OFFICIAL METHODS OF ANALYSIS – June 2010

The IULTCS, through the IULTCS Testing Commissions (IUC, IUF and IUP), provides help and protection for the leather tanning industry worldwide by developing and publishing test methods that are explicitly relevant to leather manufacture and leather usage. Without the work of the IU Commissions, which develop these test methods, the leather industry could be open to having to meet performance standards of other materials that bear no relationship to the reality of working with leather.

The IULTCS test methods are accepted by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), and following agreement in 1990 and re-affirmed in 2005, the ISO recognises IULTCS as an International Standardising Body. ISO has assigned the responsibility for the establishment of test procedures for leather to IULTCS and the resultant test method documents are published as a joint IULTCS and ISO Standards. Since 1990 many of the IU methods have been adopted by ISO as international standards and from 2005 it has been agreed that ISO will be responsible for publishing all new joint IULTCS and ISO Standards. Member countries of ISO very often use the ISO Standards to establish their own National Standards.

Further, the European Committee for Standardisation (Comite Europeen de Normalisation – CEN) has through the CEN/TC 289 Technical Committee “Leather” (Secretariat: UNI Italy) jointly adopted many of the IU/ISO Standards. Once formally accepted the EN Standards are mandatory in all EU member countries.

Now the IU Commissions and the CEN TC 289 Working Groups hold their technical meetings together to coordinate
the development of leather test methods. Consequently, this combined work of the IU Commissions, CEN TC 289 and ISO allows the development of leather test methods that are adopted as International, European and IULTCS Standards.

Test methods up to 2005
Sets of the Official IULTCS and SLTC Methods up to 2005 are published by the Society of Leather Technologists
and Chemists (SLTC). They are available in a loose-leaf, durable binder.
Orders from: Price: In Sterling or USD, on application.
Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists (SLTC)
United Kingdom
E-mail: office@sltc.org

Test methods since 2005
IULTCS / ISO joint test methods published since 2005 are published only by ISO. The joint ISO/IULTCS Standards are available as the ISO Standard version from your local country Standards Organisation.

If you have any questions or comments relating to leather test methods, please contact either the IULTCS Secretary or the respective Chairman of the IUC, IUF or IUP Commissions (see www.iultcs.org for their details).

Dr. Campbell Page
IULTCS Secretariat,
c/o VESLIC
Postfach 505
CH-4016 BASEL
SWITZERLAND
E-mail: office@iultcs.org

Set out below is a complete list of the IULTCS official methods together with the reference numbers for the
equivalent ISO Standards and European Norm (EN) methods.

Standards with numbers that include DIS (Draft International Standard) or FDIS (Final Draft International Standard)
are still in preparation and are not yet officially approved Standards.

The IULTCS Official methods of analysis for leather, including the equivalent ISO and EN Standards
– last update June 2010


IULTCS – CHEMICAL TEST METHODS

IU No. *

Method name

ISO Standard *

EN Standard *

IUC
1 (1965)


General comments

–

–

IUC
2


Sampling location (same as IUP 2)

ISO 2418:2002

          EN ISO
2418

IUC
3


Preparation of chemical test samples

ISO 4044:2008

EN ISO 4044

IUC
4


Determination of matter soluble in dichloromethane and free
fatty acid content

ISO 4048:2008

EN ISO 4048

IUC
5


Determination of volatile matter.

ISO 4684:2005*

EN ISO 4684

IUC
6


Determination of water soluble matter, water soluble inorganic matter and water soluble
organic matter.

ISO 4098:2006

EN ISO 4098

IUC
7


Determination of sulphated total ash and sulphated water
insoluble ash

ISO 4047:1977

EN ISO 4047

IUC 8-1


Determination of  chromic oxide content

Part 1:
Quantification by titration

ISO 5398-1:2007

 EN ISO 5398-1

IUC 8-2


Determination of  chromic oxide content

Part 2: Quantification by colorimetric
determination

ISO 5398-2:2007

 EN ISO 5398-2

IUC 8-3


Determination of  chromic oxide content

Part 3: Quantification by atomic
absorption spectrometry

ISO 5398-3:2007

 EN ISO 5398-3

IUC 8-4


Determination of  chromic oxide content

Part 4: Quantification by inductively
coupled plasma (ICP-OES)

ISO 5398-4:2007

 EN ISO 5398-4

IUC
9


Determination of water soluble magnesium salts

ISO 5399:1984

EN ISO 5399

IUC
10


Determination of nitrogen and hide substance

ISO 5397:1984

–

IUC
11


Determination of pH and difference figure

ISO 4045:2008

EN ISO 4045

IUC
13 (1975)


Determination of zirconium

–

–

IUC
15 (1973)


Determination of phosphorus

–

–

IUC
16 (1969)


Determination of aluminium

–

–

IUC
17 (1980)


Determination of hydroxyproline in materials containing
collagen

–

–

IUC
18


Determination of hexavalent chromium content

ISO 17075:2007

EN ISO
17075

IUC
19-1


Determination of formaldehyde content in leather

Part 1:

Quantification by HPLC                                    

ISO 17226-1:2008

EN ISO 17226-1

IUC
19-2


Determination of formaldehyde content in leather

Part 1:

Quantification by colorimetric analysis                                   

ISO 17226-2:2008

EN ISO 17226-2

IUC
19-3

(final draft)


Determination of formaldehyde content in leather

Part 1: Formaldehyde emissions from
leather                                   

ISO 17226-3:2008

final formal vote stage

EN ISO 17226-3

final formal vote stage

IUC
20-1

Chemical tests for the determination of
certain azo colorants in dyed leathers – Part 1:
Determination of certain aromatic amines derived from azo
colorants

ISO 17234-1:2010

(replaces ISO/TS
17234:2003)

EN ISO 17234-1

(replaces CEN ISO/TS
17234)

IUC
20-2

(final draft)

Chemical tests for the determination of
certain azo colorants in dyed leathers – Part 2:
Determination of 4-aminoazobenzene derived from azo
colorants       

ISO FDIS 17234-2

final formal vote stage

prEN ISO FDIS 17234-2

final formal vote stage

IUC
21 (2003)


Method for the detection of certain azo colourants in
dyestuff mixtures.

–

–

IUC
22 (2003)


Determination of aluminium oxide content of aluminium
tanning agents  

–

–

IUC
24 (2003)


Determination of basicity of aluminium tanning agents.

–

–

IUC
25


Determination of pentachlorophenol content

ISO 17070:2007**

EN
ISO 17070**
IUC 26 Determination of free-formaldehyde content in leather
processing chemicals		 ISO 27587:2009

EN ISO 27587

IUC 27-1

(final draft)

Chemical
determination of metal content. – Part 1: Extractable metals

ISO FDIS 17072-1


final formal vote stage

prEN ISO FDIS
17072-1


(final formal vote stage)

IUC 27-2

(final draft)

Chemical
determination of metal content. – Part 2: Total metal
content

ISO FDIS 17072-2


final formal vote stage

prEN ISO FDIS
17072-2


(final formal vote stage)

IUC 28

(draft in
preparation)

Determination of
free and ethoxylated nonylphenois in leather

ISO/NP 13364


(draft in preparation)

prEN ISO/NP
13364

(draft in preparation)

IUC 29

(final draft)

Eetermination of
preservative content (TCMTB-OPP-CMK-OIT) in leather

ISO FDIS 13365


final formal vote stage

prEN ISO FDIS
13365


(final formal vote stage)

IUC 30

(draft in
preparation)

Determination of
chlorinated hydrocarbons in leather

ISO/NP 13382


(draft in preparation)

prEN ISO/NP
13382

(draft in preparation)

IUC 31

(draft in
preparation)

Determination of
organo-tin compounds in leather by GC/MS method

(draft in preparation)

(draft in preparation)

IUC 32

(final draft)

Quantitative
analysis of tanning agents by filter method

ISO FDIS 14088


final formal vote stage

prEN ISO FDIS
14088


(final formal vote stage)


**Standard is at present undergoing revision following a
systematic review and an updated version is in preparation


IULTCS – PHYSICAL TEST METHODS

IU No.

Method name

ISO Standard

EN Standard

IUP 1 & IUP 3

Sample preparation and conditioning

**ISO 2419:2006

**EN ISO 2419

IUP 2

Sampling location
(same as IUC 2)

ISO 2418:2002

EN ISO 2418

IUP 4

Measurement of
thickness

ISO 2598:2002

EN ISO 2589

IUP 5

Measurement of
apparent density

ISO 2420:2002

EN ISO 2420

IUP 6

Measurement of
tensile strength and percentage elongation

**ISO 3376:2002

**EN ISO 3376

IUP 7

Measurement of
static absorption of water

ISO 2417:2002

EN ISO 2417

IUP 8

Measurement of tear
load – Double edge tear

ISO 3377-2: 2002

EN ISO 3377-2

IUP 9

Measurement of
distension and strength of grain by the ball burst test

ISO 3379:1976

–

IUP 10-1

Water resistance of
flexible leather. Part 1: Linear compression method (Penetrometer)

**ISO 5403-1:2002

**EN ISO 5403-1

IUP 10-2

(draft out for comments)

Water resistance of
flexible leather. Part 2: Angular compression method (Maeser)

**ISO 5403-2:2002

prEN ISO
DIS 5403-2

(draft out for comments)

IUP 11

Measurement of water
resistance of heavy leather

**ISO 5404:2002

**EN ISO 5404

IUP 12

Measurement of
resistance to grain cracking and the grain crack index

ISO 3378:2002

EN ISO 3378

IUP 13 (1961)

Measurement of two
dimensional extension

–

–

IUP 14 (1960)

Measurement of
waterproofness of gloving leathers

–

–

IUP 15

Measurement of water
vapour permeability

**ISO 14268:2002

**EN ISO 14268

IUP 16

Measurement of
shrinkage temperature up to 100

°C

ISO 3380:2002

EN ISO 3380

IUP 17 (1966)

Assessment of the
resistance of air dry insole leathers to heat

–

–

IUP 18 (1969)

Resistance of air
dry lining leathers to heat

–

–

IUP 19 (1969)

Resistance of air
dry upper leather to heat

–

–

IUP 20

Determination
of flex
resistance.  Part 1: Flexometer method

**ISO 5402-1:2002

**EN ISO 5402-1

IUP 21 (1963)

Measurement of set
in lasting

–

–

IUP 22 (1963)

Assessment of scuff
damage by use of the viewing box

–

–

IUP 23 (1963)

Measurement of
scuff damage

–

–

IUP 24 (1964)

Measurement of
surface shrinkage by immersion in boiling water

–

–

IUP 26 (1993)

Measurement of
resistance to abrasion of heavy leather

–

–

IUP 28 (1969)

Measurement of the
resistance to bending of heavy leather

–

–

IUP 29

Measurement of cold
crack temperature of surface coatings

ISO 17233:2002

EN ISO 17233

IUP 30 (1983)

Measurement of water
vapour absorption and desorption (See IUP 42)

–

–

IUP 32

Measurement of area

ISO 11646:1993

EN ISO 11646

IUP 35

Measurement of the
dimensional stability for leather (Old title:Measurement of dry
heat resistance of leather

ISO 17227:2002

EN ISO 17227

IUP 36

Measurement of
leather softness

**ISO 17235:2002

**EN ISO 17235

IUP 37

Measurement of water
repellency of garment leather                     

ISO 17231:2006

EN ISO 17231

(former EN14340:2002)

IUP 38

Measurement of heat
resistance of patent leather

ISO 17232:2006

EN ISO 17232:2009
(former EN 13540)

IUP 39

Measurement of flex
resistance.  Part 2: Vamp flex method

**ISO 5402-2

(former ISO 22288:2006)

**EN ISO 5402-2

(former EN ISO 22288:2009)

IUP 40

Measurement of tear
load – Single edge tear

**ISO 3377-1:2002

**EN ISO 3377-1

IUP 41

Measurement of
surface coating thickness

**ISO 17186:2002

**EN ISO 17186

IUP 42

Measurement of water
vapour absorption

ISO 17229:2002

EN ISO 17229

IUP 43

Measurement of
extension set

ISO 17236:2002

EN ISO 17236

IUP 44

Measurement of
stitch tear resistance

ISO 23910:2007

EN ISO 23910

IUP 45

Measurement of water
penetration pressure                                  

ISO 17320:2006

EN ISO 17230

(former EN 14289:2003)

IUP 46

Measurement of
fogging characteristics                                         

ISO 17071:2006

EN ISO 17071

(former EN
14288:2003)

IUP 47

Measurement of
resistance to horizontal spread of flame              

ISO 17074:2006

EN ISO 17074

(former EN
14326:2003)

IUP 48-1

Measurement of
abrasion resistance.  Part 1: Taber method

**ISO 17076-1:2006

**EN ISO 17076-1

(former EN
14327:2003)

IUP 48-2

(final draft)

Measurement of
abrasion resistance.  Part 2: Martindale ball plate method

**ISO FDIS 17076-2-(final
formal vote stage)

prEN ISO
FDIS 17076-2

(final formal vote stage)

IUP 49

 (Draft: 2002)

Measurement of
bagginess 

–

CEN/TS 14689:2006

IUP 50

(final draft)

Determination of
soiling.  Part 2: Tumbling method

ISO FDIS 26082-2

(final formal vote stage)

prEN ISO FDIS
26082-2 (final formal
vote stage)

IUP 51

(Draft: 2002)

Measurement of
Surface
Friction

–

–

IUP 52

(Draft: 2002)

Measurement of
Compressibility

–

–

IUP 53-1

Determination of
soiling. Part 1: Martindale method

**ISO 26082-1-1:2007

**EN ISO 26082-1

IUP 54

(final draft)

 Determination
of flexural properties

ISO FDIS
14087

(final formal vote stage)

prEN ISO FDIS 14087
(final formal vote stage)


**Standard is at present undergoing revision following a
systematic review and an updated version is in preparation


IULTCS – FASTNESS TEST METHODS

IU No.

Method name

ISO Standard

EN Standard

IUF 105 (1966)


Numbering code for fastness tests

 

 

IUF 120 (1966)


General principles of colour fastness testing of leather

***ISO 105-A01:2010

***EN ISO 105-A01

IUF 131 (1966)

Grey
scale for assessing change in colour

***ISO 105-A02:1993

(incl. later amendment)

***EN ISO 105-A02

IUF 132 (1966)

Grey
scale for assessing staining

***ISO 105-A03:1993

(incl. later amendment)

***EN ISO 105-A03

IUF 151 (1975)


Preparation of storable standard chrome grain leather for dyeing

–

–

IUF 201 (1966)


Approximate determination of the solubility of leather dyes

–

–

IUF 202 (1966)


Fastness to acid of dye solutions

–

–

IUF 203 (1966)


Stability to acid of dye solutions

–

–

IUF 205 (1972)


Stability to hardness of dye solutions

–

–

IUF 401 (1972)


Colour fastness of leather to light: Daylight

***ISO 105-B01:1994

(incl. later amendment)

***EN ISO 105-B01

IUF 402 (1975)


Colour fastness of leather to light: Xenon lamp

***ISO 105-B02:1994

(incl. later amendments)

(Revision in progress)

***EN ISO 105-B02

IUF 412

Change of colour with accelerated ageing.

**ISO 17728:2005

**EN ISO 17228

IUF 420


Colour fastness to water spotting

ISO 15700:1998

EN ISO 15700

IUF 421


Colour fastness to water

**ISO 11642:1998

**EN ISO 11642

IUF 423

Colour fastness to mild washing

ISO 15703:1998

EN ISO 15703

IUF 426


Colour fastness to perspiration

**ISO 11641:1993

**EN ISO 11641

IUF 434


Colour fastness of small samples to solvents

ISO 11643:2009

EN ISO 11643

IUF 435

Colour fastness to
machine washing

ISO 15702:1998

EN ISO 15702

IUF 441 (1972)


Colour fastness in respect of staining raw crepe rubber

–

 –

IUF 442


Colour fastness to migration into plasticised poly(vinyl
chloride)

ISO 15701:1998

EN ISO 15701

IUF 450


Colour fastness to cycles of to-and-fro rubbing

**ISO 11640:1993

**EN ISO 11640

IUF 452


Colour fastness to
crocking    

ISO 20433:2005

–

IUF 454 (1975)


Fastness to buffing of dyed leather

–

–

IUF 458 (1984)


Colour fastness of leather to ironing

–

–

IUF 470


Leather test for adhesion of finish

ISO 11644:2009

EN ISO 11644

The following textile fastness Standards do not have equivalent IU leather test methods but are recommended for use as the International Standard for leather.

–

Instrumental assessment of the degree of
staining of adjacent fabrics

ISO 105-A04:1989

EN ISO 105-A04

–

Instrumental assessment for change in
colour for grey scale

ISO 105-A05:1996

EN ISO 105-A05

–

Colour fastness & ageing to artificial
light at high temperatures: Xenon

ISO 105-B06:1998

(incl. later amendment)

EN ISO 105-B06

–

Oil repellency – Hydrocarbon resistance
test

ISO 14419:1998

(incl. later amendments

(Revision in progress))

EN ISO 14419

**Standard is at present undergoing revision following a systematic review and an updated version is in preparation
***Nearest textile International Standard, recommended for use as the International Standard for leather

SPANISH VERSION:

Many of the IUP Methods above have been translated into Spanish by AQEIC, Spain, with the permission of the Editor of JSLTC. If you wish to obtain copies they are available at an estimated 30 EUROS, plus postage.

For more information, please contact:

The Secretary
Asociacion Quimica Espanola Industria del Cuero (AQEIC)
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 608, 8 C
08007 Barcelona
Spain.

E-mails: aqeic@aqeic.org
www.aqeic.org