Overview
EN ISO 19074:2015 (ISO 19074:2015) specifies a laboratory method for determining the rate of water absorption by capillary action (wicking) in leather. The standard applies to all types of leather and defines how to prepare test specimens, the apparatus and conditions required, the 120-minute immersion procedure, and how to report results. Typical outputs are the wicking value (W) - the maximum height of the water front - and the water absorption (A) - percentage mass increase after immersion.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Principle: A rectangular leather strip is suspended vertically with its lower end immersed; after (120 ± 5) minutes measure the highest water front and the mass gain.
- Specimen size & orientation: Cut four test pieces (100 ± 2) mm × (25 ± 1) mm - two parallel and two perpendicular to the backbone.
- Conditioning & thickness: Condition specimens per ISO 2419; measure thickness per ISO 2589. Lateral wicking measurements apply for thickness > 1 mm.
- Apparatus & materials:
- 250 ml low-form beaker or suitable container; water depth (40 ± 5) mm.
- Balance (accuracy < 0.01 g) and ruler (accuracy < 0.5 mm).
- Press knife and circular punch (≈2 mm) for specimen preparation.
- Metal mass of (10 ± 1) g to prevent rolling where required.
- Distilled/deionised water meeting ISO 3696 (grade 3).
- Measurements:
- Wicking distances on grain, flesh, and lateral sides (W_A, W_B, W_C, W_D).
- Water absorption A = ((m1 − m0) / m0) × 100 %.
- Compute average values by orientation and report the higher average as the sample value.
- Special cases:
- If water reaches the 50 mm mark before 120 min, report W as “> 40 mm” and A as “not able to be determined”.
- If the water front is not visible, A can still be reported; alternatively use a fluorescent dye (e.g., 0.2% fluorescein) and UV inspection.
Practical applications and users
- Quality control and acceptance testing in leather manufacturing, footwear, upholstery, garment, and accessories industries.
- R&D and laboratory testing to evaluate effects of tanning, finishing, coatings, or treatments on moisture uptake.
- Suppliers of leather chemicals and finishers who need to quantify capillary absorption performance.
- Compliance testing when specifying leather performance for end-use applications sensitive to liquid migration, staining or moisture transport.
Related standards
- ISO 2418 - Sampling locations for leather testing
- ISO 2419 - Sample preparation and conditioning
- ISO 2589 - Thickness measurement
- ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
Keywords: EN ISO 19074:2015, ISO 19074, leather wicking test, water absorption by capillary action, leather physical tests, wicking value, water absorption A.