Kinetics of combined microwave and hot air drying of leather

The characteristics of microwave-assisted drying of chrome tanned leather were studied for several air flow and microwave power conditions. Drying rates, temperature variation and dielectric properties of leather are presented and a physical model is proposed to explain the behaviour under microwave radiation. Specially designed microwave equipment was built and used to carry out the tests. The results obtained look promising as the drying rates are greatly accelerated without damaging the leather.