Abbreviation:  CLRI

The World's largest Leather Research Institute, was founded on 24 April, 1948. CLRI made an initiative with foresight to link technology system with both academy and industry.

CLRI, today, is a central hub in Indian leather sector with direct roles in education, research, training, testing, designing, forecasting, planning, social empowerment and leading in science and technology relating to leather.

State-of-the-art facilities in CLRI support, innovation in leather processing, creative designing of leather products viz. leather garment, leather goods, footwear and development of novel environmental technologies for leather sector.

Department: Polymer Division
The polymer division was established in the year 1975 at CLRI by Prof. M. Santappa to create research of excellence in Polymer Science and Technology, especially directed towards leather and footwear industries. This department has produced nearly 50 Ph.D students, published more than 250 papers in international journals and 20 patents. Many of the students for higher research and development work in USA, Japan, Germany and other countries.

R&D Activities:
The Research activities of the Department are mainly focused on the fundamental and innovative technologies for developing high performances polymeric materials and polymer related  technologies to leather and allied industries.The departments conducts its main research into the chemistry and synthesis of novel monomers and polymers,the synthesis of polymers that have their molecular weights and chemical structure precisely controlled,the chemical modificationof polymers,synthesis of block and graft copolymers,emulsionm and microemulsion polymers,liquid crystalline polymers,conducting polymers,high performance polymer composites,adhesives,polymer blends and alloys.

Technologies
Technologies transferred:
• A new category of acrylic syntan for retanning of chrome leather to obtain enhanced cutting value of hides and skins
• Wide range of acrylic emulsion(soft,medium-soft and hard binders) for dye and pigment fixing on to leather
• Polyeretahne adhesives for footwear.
• Polymer dispersion for enteric coating application(sustained release)

Technologies Ready for commersialisation:
• Polyamide based hot-melt adhesives
• Pressure sensitive adhesives
• Water soluble polymers for retaining chrome leather
• Neoprene adhesive

Website:  www.clri.org

Contact Address:
Central Leather Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
Head, Polymer Division,
CLRI, Adyar, Chennai 600 020.

Tel : 91-44- 24915238

Fax :  91-44-24912150

E-mail : clrim@vsnl.com

Office Bearers:

Director: Prof. Dr. Asit Baran Mandal

Contact: Polymer Science
Dr. Y. Lakshminarayana
Head, Polymer Division
CLRI, Adyar, Chennai 600 020.
Telephone.: 91 44 24422059
Email : ylnarayana@hotmail.com