In this study the effect of TiO₂-SiO₂ nanocomposite on various performance characteristics of finished leather was investigated. For this purpose, TiO₂-SiO₂ nanocomposite was prepared via the sol-gel method from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and titanium n-butoxide (TBO) catalyzed with acid at ambient temperature. The prepared composite was applied by spraying on to the top coat of finished leathers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were employed to characterize the surface properties and the chemical structure of the nanocomposite films. Inductively coupled plasma optic emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) was used to evaluate elemental analysis of the nanocomposite on leather. The physical-mechanical and fastness properties of leathers treated with the nanocomposite were evaluated according to appropriate standards. The results indicated that the use of TiO₂-SiO₂ nanocomposite improved certain performance characteristics of leather such as dry and wet rubbing fastness, color fastness to UV light and finish adhesion.

This work investigated the biological efficacy of germinated green buckwheat and its flour (GGBF) as an improver of the quality, storability, and safety of mixed horsemeat and chicken (thighs) patties. The addition of germinated green buckwheat and its flour (GGBF) into the patties improved (p ≤ .05) the protein and fat contents, cooking yield, moisture and fat retention, total phenolic content, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The addition of GGBF resulted in a lower L* value, whereas the a* and b* values were slightly higher, with the storage time exhibiting a preserving effect of green buckwheat sprouts on the color of a product. Also, the sensory evaluation revealed increases (p < .05) in overall acceptability and juiciness scores. Generally, this study identified the antioxidant and textural improvement potentiality of germinated green buckwheat and its flour, which could pave the way for its use as an extender of the shelf life of the patties.

This comprehensive review explores the underutilized buckwheat hulls, sprouts, and grain and sprout extracts, concentrating on their nutritional characteristics, health advantages, and possible uses in developing functional food products. Buckwheat, a pseudocereal, is emphasized for its...

Günümüzde sürdürülebilir, ekolojik ve özgün tasarımlar ile katma değeri yüksek ürünlere olan talebin artması nedeniyle, hayal gücünü ve yaratıcılığını kullanan doğal boya araştırmacıları, mühendisler, deri ve tekstil tasarımcıları malzemelerini boyamak ve tasarlamak için daha çevreci yöntemler aramaktadırlar. Doğada bol miktarda bulunan bitkilerden elde edilen doğal boyalar ile malzemeler üzerine yüzey tasarımı ve baskılar yapılabilmektedir. Doğal boyaların kullanımı uzun zamandır bilinmekte olup doğal kaynaklardan elde edildiğinden çevre dostu olarak kabul edilmektedir. Ekolojik baskıda çiçek, yaprak, bitki parçaları vb. kullanılarak malzeme yüzeylerinde doğal olarak birçok renkli tasarımlar elde edilebilmektedir. Deri üzerine ekolojik baskı ile ilgili çok az sayıda çalışma bulunmakta ve bu konudaki araştırmalar sınırlı ve yetersizdir. Bu çalışmada, bitkisel tabaklanmış deri üzerine uygulanan ekolojik baskı sırasında, metal mordan ve biomordan kullanımının oluşan desen üzerine etkisi araştırılmıştır. Buna ek olarak, elde edilen eko-baskılı deri, kadife bir kumaşla birlikte kullanılarak modaya uygun tasarım bir ceket üretilmiştir. Ayrıca aynı ekolojik baskılı deriden zincir ve tavus kuşu tüyüyle kombinlenerek bir kolye yapılmış ve böylece, ekolojik baskılı derinin farklı materyallerle, çeşitli ürünlerin tasarımında kullanılabilirliği ortaya konulmuştur. Çalışmada elde edilen sonuçlar ve ürünler değerlendirildiğinde, çalışmanın öne çıkan katkısı şu şekilde ortaya konulabilir; bu yöntemle deri üzerinde yapılan yüzey tasarımı ile geleneksel deri üretimi sırasında deriyi renklendirmek ve/veya yüzeyine desen vermek için kullanılan kimyasal boya ve apre işlemlerine gerek kalmayacaktır. Bu işlemler sırasında kullanılan kimyasallar ve boyarmaddeler hem insan sağlığı hem de çevre üzerindeki olumsuz etkilere sahiptir. Bu tür uygulamalar ile çevre ve insan sağlığı üzerine etkili olan, kirliliğin azaltılması ya da önüne geçilmesi mümkün olacaktır. Üstelik bitkilerin her birinin deriye verdiği farklı renk, desen ve şekillerin çekiciliği ve doğallığı nedeniyle eko baskılı deriden tasarlanan her ürünün tüketiciler için cazip olacağı düşünülmektedir. Today, due to the increasing demand for sustainable, ecological and original designs and high value-added products, natural dye researchers, engineers, leather and textile designers who use their imagination and creativity are looking for more environmental methods of dyeing and designing of their materials. Surface design and prints on the materials can be done with natural dyes from plants which are abundant in nature. The use of natural dyes has long been known, and they are considered environmentally friendly since obtained from natural sources. In ecological printing, many colorful designs can be obtained naturally on the material surfaces by using flowers, leaves, plant parts etc. There are very few studies regarding the ecological printing on leather and researches in this field are limited and insufficient. In this study, the effect of the use of metal mordant and biomordant on the patterns formed during ecological printing on vegetable tanned leathers was investigated. In addition, the obtained eco-printed leather was used together with a velvet fabric to produce a fashionable design jacket. In addition, a necklace was made from the same ecologically printed leather combined with a chain and peacock feathers, thus demonstrating the usability of ecologically printed leather in the design of various products with different materials. When the results and products obtained in the study are evaluated, the prominent contribution of the study can be revealed as follow; with the surface design made by this method on the leather, there will be no need for chemical dyeing and finishing processes used to color the leather and/or give a pattern to the surface during traditional leather production. The chemicals and dyestuffs used during these processes have adverse effects on both human health and environment. With such practices, it will be possible to reduce or prevent pollution, which is effective on the environment and human health. Furthermore, it is thought that each product designed from eco-printed leather will be attractive to consumers due to the appeal and naturalness of different colors, patterns and shapes that each plant gives to the leather.

Thermo-physiological comfort has become an essential quality parameter for footwear and apparel materials, particularly in natural leather, where heat, air, and moisture regulation directly affect wearability. Among these, suede leathers exhibit distinctive comfort behaviour due to their napped, open-pore structure. This study aimed to compare the thermo-physiological comfort properties of suede leather for footwear and apparel, focusing on physical strength, air and water vapour permeability, and thermal performance. Physical-mechanical properties of suede leathers were evaluated according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards (tensile strength, elongation, tear load), air and water vapour permeability, and thermal parameters (conductivity, resistance, absorptivity) were measured. Apparel suede exhibited significantly higher tensile strength and elongation, reflecting flexible collagen structures suited to body movement. They also exhibited greater air and water vapour permeability, supporting moisture transfer and breathability in garments. Suede footwear demonstrated higher thermal resistance and absorptivity, providing insulation and a cooler tactile sensation, functional for foot protection and maintaining microclimate stability. These findings highlight the application-specific optimization of suede leathers: apparel suede is preferred for flexibility, softness, and breathability, whereas footwear suede emphasizes insulation, durability, and tactile cooling. The study offers valuable guidance for material selection in design and manufacturing, bridging scientific evaluation with consumer-driven comfort needs.