A fluorine-free composition includes at least one polycarbodiimide compound derived from a carbodiimidization reaction of a carbodiimidization reaction mixture comprising at least one oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises at least one isocyanate end group and at least two repeating units, wherein each of the at least two repeating units comprises at least one hydrocarbon group having at least 16 carbon atoms. The composition may also include at least one paraffin wax. Such compositions are useful for treating fibrous substrates to enhance their water-repellency.

A fluorine-free composition includes at least one polycarbodiimide compound derived from a carbodiimidization reaction of a carbodiimidization reaction mixture comprising at least one oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises at least one isocyanate end group and at least two repeating units, wherein each of the at least two repeating units comprises at least one hydrocarbon group having at least 16 carbon atoms. The composition may also include at least one paraffin wax. Such compositions are useful for treating fibrous substrates to enhance their water-repellency.

Described herein is a method for producing a biofabricated material from collagen or collagen-like proteins. The collagen or collagen-like proteins are isolated from animal sources or produced by recombinant DNA techniques or by chemical synthesis. The collagen or collagen-like proteins are fibrillated, crosslinked, dehydrated and lubricated thus forming the biofabricated material having a substantially uniform network of collagen fibrils.

Described herein is a method for producing a biofabricated material from collagen or collagen-like proteins. The collagen or collagen-like proteins are isolated from animal sources or produced by recombinant DNA techniques or by chemical synthesis. The collagen or collagen-like proteins are fibrillated, crosslinked, dehydrated and lubricated thus forming the biofabricated material having a substantially uniform network of collagen fibrils.

A multi-layered material that includes a layer of natural leather or collagen leather with holes and/or micro-holes and coated with a hydrophobic agent, which is superimposed and adhered, by means of hydrolysis-resistant adhesives, said adhesives being arranged in a non-laminar fashion, to a layer of waterproof, breathable material to prevent the passage of water and to allow the passage of air therethrough.

A fluorine-free composition includes at least one polycarbodiimide compound derived from a carbodiimidization reaction of a carbodiimidization reaction mixture comprising at least one oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises at least one isocyanate end group and at least two repeating units, wherein each of the at least two repeating units comprises at least one hydrocarbon group having at least 16 carbon atoms. The composition may also include at least one paraffin wax. Such compositions are useful for treating fibrous substrates to enhance their water-repellency.

A fluorine-free composition includes at least one polycarbodiimide compound derived from a carbodiimidization reaction of a carbodiimidization reaction mixture comprising at least one oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises at least one isocyanate end group and at least two repeating units, wherein each of the at least two repeating units comprises at least one hydrocarbon group having at least 16 carbon atoms. The composition may also include at least one paraffin wax. Such compositions are useful for treating fibrous substrates to enhance their water-repellency.

A biofabricated material containing a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

A biofabricated material containing a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

The invention relates to a method for hydrophobising leather, comprising the steps: providing tanned, at least partly dried leather whose content of free water is in the range of from 0 to 25 wt. %, based on the weight of the dried leather, treating the leather with a mixture of compressed gas and a hydrophobising agent at a pressure of at least 30 bar in a pressure vessel, and relieving the pressure of the pressure vessel to ambient pressure. By using the method according to the invention it is possible to obtain leather which is hydrophobised at the surface, as well as thick and firm, deeply hydrophobised leather, as is used, for example, for shoe soles.