Overview
ISO 2589:2016 - Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of thickness - specifies a standard method for measuring the thickness of leather. It applies to all types of leather, irrespective of tannage, and is valid for both whole hides/skins and prepared test samples. The method defines the apparatus, sampling, measurement procedure, result expression and reporting requirements used in routine leather thickness measurement and quality control.
Key Topics
- Scope and applicability
- Applicable to all leathers and test samples; measurement valid for whole leather or a cut sample.
- Principle
- Leather is placed in a thickness gauge and compressed under a specified load; thickness is read directly.
- Apparatus requirements
- Gauge readable to 0.01 mm with accuracy ±0.02 mm.
- Anvil: cylindrical surface 10.00 mm ±0.05 mm diameter projecting 3.0 mm ±0.1 mm above a concentric circular support plate 50.0 mm ±0.2 mm diameter.
- Presser foot: flat circular surface 10.0 mm ±0.05 mm diameter aligned with the anvil and loaded by a mass of 393 g ±10 g to produce the specified pressure (approx. 49.1 kPa).
- Rigid base to support the assembly.
- Sampling and conditioning
- Official samples (per ISO 2418): five measurements at locations across the sample.
- Other test samples: three measurements.
- Unknown-origin samples: five measurements.
- Very heavy or hard leathers: use a smaller sample and three measurements.
- Whole hides/skins: five measurements at each location.
- Condition samples according to ISO 2419 before testing.
- Test procedure
- Place sample in gauge (grain/flesh orientation: grain up if identifiable).
- Apply load gently and record thickness after 5 s ±1 s.
- Results & reporting
- Report the arithmetic mean to 0.01 mm.
- Test report must reference ISO 2589, list results, state conditioning atmosphere (ISO 2419), note any deviations, and identify the sample.
Applications
- Quality control and specification verification in tanneries, leather goods manufacturers, footwear and upholstery producers.
- Incoming inspection of leather raw materials and acceptance testing for suppliers and OEMs.
- Laboratory testing for R&D, material comparison, and compliance with procurement specifications.
- Useful for product designers and material engineers who require accurate thickness data for cutting, stitching allowances, and performance modeling.
Related Standards
- ISO 2418 - Leather - Sampling location for chemical, physical and mechanical tests
- ISO 2419 - Leather - Preparation and conditioning of test samples
- IULTCS/IUP 4 - Original method reference adopted into ISO 2589
Keywords: ISO 2589:2016, leather thickness measurement, leather testing standard, thickness gauge, physical and mechanical tests, ISO leather standards.
