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.

A composition for impregnating a watchstrap or parts thereof is disclosed, the composition comprising a) an organic solvent or a sol-gel, b) at least one active organic compound comprising, preferably consisting of, a phosphonate group PO.sub.3H and an hydrophobic or hyper-hydrophobic group, and c) optionally one or more functional groups selected from i. an antifouling functional group and ii. a bioactive functional group,

Further, two processes for functionalizing a watchstrap or parts thereof are disclosed, one comprising impregnating a watchstrap or parts thereof with the composition containing the organic solvent, the second comprising impregnating a watchstrap or parts thereof with a silica sol-gel solution, which optionally comprises at least one active organic molecule as defined above.

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.

An electrical device capable of water-resisting, vapor resistant and electrically conducting in a moisture-containing environment and a method for making such electrical device are provided. The present invention for use in electrically conductive aqueous solutions enables the electrical device to be electrically conductive in any direction because of quantum tunneling effect. The electrical device includes a device body having at least one surface, and a plurality of nano-particles embedded in one of surface pores of the at least one surface of the device body. The particle size of the nano-particles is less than tens of nanometers.

An electrical device capable of water-resisting, vapor resistant and electrically conducting in a moisture-containing environment and a method for making such electrical device are provided. The present invention for use in electrically conductive aqueous solutions enables the electrical device to be electrically conductive in any direction because of quantum tunneling effect. The electrical device includes a device body having at least one surface, and a plurality of nano-particles embedded in one of surface pores of the at least one surface of the device body. The particle size of the nano-particles is less than tens of nanometers.

The invention is directed to a method for producing a composite material comprising a biofabricated material and a secondary component. The secondary component may be a porous material, such as a sheet of paper, cellulose, or fabric that has been coated or otherwise contacted with the biofabricated material. The biofabricated material comprises a uniform network of crosslinked collagen fibrils and provides strength, elasticity and an aesthetic appearance to the composite material.

The invention is directed to a method for producing a composite material comprising a biofabricated material and a secondary component. The secondary component may be a porous material, such as a sheet of paper, cellulose, or fabric that has been coated or otherwise contacted with the biofabricated material. The biofabricated material comprises a uniform network of crosslinked collagen fibrils and provides strength, elasticity and an aesthetic appearance to the composite material.

A method of preparing hydrophobicizing leather treatment compositions includes the steps of a) free-radically initiated copolymerization of i) at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivatives, and ii) at least one (meth)acrylate of a primary saturated C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 alcohol, b) mixing the reaction mixture obtained after step a) with water, c) salting at least some of the carboxyl groups of the reaction mixture obtained after step b) with a base, and d) shearing the reaction mixture obtained after step c) to an average particle size of 0.05-10 m,
wherein step a) is carried out in oil as reaction medium and wherein the atmosphere in step a) contains less than 0.1% by volume of an oxidizing gas.

A method of preparing hydrophobicizing leather treatment compositions includes the steps of a) free-radically initiated copolymerization of i) at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivatives, and ii) at least one (meth)acrylate of a primary saturated C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 alcohol, b) mixing the reaction mixture obtained after step a) with water, c) salting at least some of the carboxyl groups of the reaction mixture obtained after step b) with a base, and d) shearing the reaction mixture obtained after step c) to an average particle size of 0.05-10 m,
wherein step a) is carried out in oil as reaction medium and wherein the atmosphere in step a) contains less than 0.1% by volume of an oxidizing gas.