Unilateral NMR and imaging thermal microscopy (imageMHT) were performed on new and artificially aged vegetable leathers.
Proton relaxation times and shrinkage temperatures depend on both the collagen origin and tannin type.
Both NMR relaxation times were sensitive to ageing and showed a sudden change when the tannin matrix was depleted.
Cross-link formation was reflected by concomitant lowering of relaxation times and increase of shrinkage temperature.