Vinyl leather
Why was artificial leather created, since there is natural leather?
Humanity has been using animal skins since ancient times. For the manufacture of clothing and shoes, as well as for household items. But the number of people on earth is growing from century to century, and the needs of each person are increasing along with the progress of mankind. This inevitably led to a shortage of natural raw materials and the emergence of complex environmental problems. To solve the problem of shortage of natural leather, man invented artificial leather. It not only made up for the shortage of natural raw materials, but also surpassed it in many ways in its properties.
To create artificial leather with the required set of properties, high-molecular compounds (polymers) were chosen - substances with a high molecular weight from several tens of thousands to several millions. A natural analogue of compounds of this class are proteins. Proteins form the basis of all life on earth. Polymers have a unique set of properties.
The creation and production of artificial leather is associated with the science and technology of producing and processing polymers. Therefore, artificial leather technology has an almost unlimited and constantly expanding raw material base, which in turn determines unlimited possibilities for its development.
Vinyl leather production technology.
Vinyl leather is a material with one-sided monolithic or porous PVC applied to a fibrous base.
In the production technology of vinyl artificial leather, 3 main stages can be distinguished: 1) preparation of the fibrous base; 2) application of polymer coatings; 3) final finishing.
Fabrics, knitwear, and various non-woven materials made from natural or artificial fibers are used as a fibrous base. The properties of soft vinyl artificial leather are largely determined by this important design element: the qualities of the finished leather, such as strength, stretchability in various directions, ability to drape, etc., depend on the base material. To give greater strength and density, fibrous bases are often impregnated with polymer compositions. Then a coating of melts, solutions and dispersions of polymers is applied to the surface of the fibrous base, using various technological methods and equipment. PVC in its pure form is hard as a rock. To impart elasticity, plasticizer additives (various phthalic acid esters) are added to it up to 60% mass fraction. These additives are built into the polymer structure, and stabilizer additives are also built in, which make it stable under the influence of daylight.
Methods for studying vinyl leather.
For vinyl artificial leather used in furniture production, such characteristics as resistance to deformation, tearing, scratches, abrasion, moisture and detergents, high temperatures, light aging, as well as bending strength, color fastness, stickiness and others are relevant, depending depending on the area of application. Furniture artificial leather is used in direct contact with human skin, so hygienic requirements are of particular importance: absence of odor and harmful emissions, hygroscopicity of vinyl leather.
Tensile strength
The tensile strength tester stretches the material until it breaks (the sample must withstand a tensile force of up to 600 N)
Resistance of vinyl leatherette to repeated bending
Checked with a flexometer. The material must withstand 150 thousand flexion-extension cycles at room temperature, and 30 thousand cycles at a temperature of -20 degrees. After testing, the samples must be assessed for cracks and wrinkles.
Abrasion resistance of vinyl leatherette
Abrasion resistance refers to the ability of a material to resist surface wear caused by friction. For this purpose, the Martindale test is used. A round tester moves over the skin sample. Over 20 hours, the tester makes 50 to 60 thousand circular movements, after which conclusions are made about the material’s resistance to abrasion.
Resistance of vinyl leather to mechanical damage.
To test resistance to mechanical damage, a special installation has been created, which uses the tip of a cutter with a load of 2 kg to repeatedly drive over the sample. After testing, the samples are visually inspected for scratches.
A variety of textures and a wide range of colors provide designers with ample opportunities to use vinyl artificial leather both as the main material and as a “companion” in combination with various types of upholstery fabrics.
Vinyl leather is easy to clean. Stable:
to ultraviolet;
to sea water;
to oil contamination;
to chlorinated water;
to ruptures;
to disinfectants;
to mold damage;
to abrasion.
Architects, designers and furniture manufacturers have already appreciated the wide range of possibilities that artificial leather offers in terms of design options, appearance and functionality. Compared to natural materials, vinyl artificial leather has advantages in price, unlimited supplies, stable quality and ease of maintenance. Being 50-80% cheaper than natural leather, vinyl leather has comparable functional characteristics and identical appearance. Natural materials are very sensitive to a variety of external factors, require expensive preparation and processing, and often have quite large fluctuations in quality indicators. In addition, genuine leather requires special care, which is not at all required for high-quality vinyl leather, even with intensive and long-term use.
Artificial leather care
Artificial leather is resistant to water, oil and grease stains, dirt, weak acids, alkalis and alcohol. However, in order for artificial leather to last for a long time, you must follow simple rules.
In order to remove stains and dirt, it is necessary to wipe the surface of the leatherette with a soft sponge or cloth soaked in water and diluted detergent. If stains cannot be removed in this way, it is permissible to clean the artificial leather using tetrachloroethene or ammonia.
After cleaning, it is necessary to wipe the artificial materials dry, since water can cause partial destruction of the surface of the leatherette.
If you want to prevent dirt and stains from appearing on leatherette, use special water- and dirt-repellent products for natural leather. When using such products you must be careful and careful. If the instructions prohibit the use of this product for polyurethane (not use for PU), then the impregnation is not suitable for you.
Under no circumstances should you use dry cleaning or clean vinyl leather using bleach. It is also prohibited to iron artificial leather.
Polyurethane artificial leather (eco leather)
Polyurethane artificial leather is a high-tech material, furniture fabric, breathable artificial leather without PVC. The production of eco-leather uses all the advanced developments in the global industry of chemistry, technology and high-precision equipment.
Polyurethane is a material with amazing properties.
The polymer that forms the eco-leather film is polyurethane. Its simplest compounds were first synthesized by the German chemist Bayer Otto Georg Wilhelm in 1937, an employee of the Bayer AG concern. The mechanism of its chemical synthesis is much more complex than the synthesis of PVC, it is multi-stage, and most importantly, all the required properties are established precisely during the chemical synthesis of the polymer. Accordingly, no additives - plasticizers - are needed; during operation, the polymer film does not release anything from itself, hence the name - “eco-leather”.
Polyurethane (PU) itself is a class of polymers with exceptionally high wear resistance (remember heels) and frost resistance (down to -35°C). These remarkable properties are due to the high mobility of the spatial network of polyurethanes, their ability to undergo restructuring under the influence of mechanical influences or temperature changes. Polyurethanes are even capable of “self-healing” damage to the polymer network caused by deformation.
An important feature of eco-leather production technology is the formation of through micropores that penetrate the film; the material, unlike PVC, also “breathes”, i.e. allows air and water vapor to pass through without allowing water to pass through. In some of its articles, eco-leather “breathes” no worse than ordinary furniture fabrics, and in any case, its air permeability is tens and hundreds of times higher than that of any, the most expensive natural leather.
Another feature of the technology is careful treatment of the film substrate; during the production process, cotton fabric does not experience any mechanical stress or stretching, so eco-leather has a very flexible structure, remarkable softness and elasticity.
To the touch, polyurethane artificial leather is warm, like natural leather, and vinyl artificial leather is cold. If you sit naked on a sofa upholstered in vinyl or natural leather, you will definitely sweat. Everyone knows this. If the sofa is upholstered in eco-leather, then sitting “naked” on it is almost as comfortable as if it were upholstered with furniture fabric. Thus, considering the most important consumer properties, we can say that eco-leather is in a sense a hybrid of fabric and leather; furniture makers sometimes call it “polyurethane-impregnated fabric.”
So, eco-leather is a material with a unique set of consumer properties:
Permeable to air and water vapor
Does not allow water to pass through
Warm to the touch
Wear-resistant
It is hygroscopic
Frost resistance (up to -35оС)
Does not emit harmful substances
Good organoleptic properties.
The fact is that the full-grain furniture genuine leather used in Russia, and throughout the world, in the vast majority of cases has artificial embossing and is treated with acrylic emulsions, after which there is no need to talk about any breathability of natural leather. Professionals usually call it “face-corrected skin.” Almost reducing the breathability properties to zero certainly makes corrected natural leather less comfortable for humans.
Eco-leathers are inferior to natural leathers in terms of hygroscopicity, but are sharply superior to them in breathability. The third property “responsible” for comfort is that their thermal conductivity is almost the same. As for the organoleptic properties (i.e. how pleasant the material is to the touch), then, of course, genuine leather with aniline finishing is higher than most types of eco-leather. (But not all!) Corrected leathers feel quite comparable to eco-leathers.
If you have a small piece of scrap or a catalog of samples of ECO-LEATHER on hand (and you doubt what material is used in the product), then, placing the palms of your hands one on the upholstery material, the other on a piece of ECO-LEATHER, try to analyze your sensations. ECO LEATHER, like natural leather, should be warmer to the touch than PVC leather.
A more complex determination method involves applying a small amount of vegetable oil to the test samples. The duration of exposure to the sample is approximately one day. The effect will be very visual
A noticeable glossy dent has formed on the surface of the PVC leather in place of the oil stain, and the leather there has become harder to the touch. Roughly speaking, in this place the skin “instantly” aged. An irreversible process of extraction of the plasticizer from the PVC film has occurred.
But on a sample of ECO LEATHER (as well as on a sample of natural leather), the oil does not leave its harmful traces! The material does not change externally, its properties remain the same.
Care:
Polyurethane artificial leather is a modern synthetic high-tech material that must be treated with care, just like natural leather.
To remove household contaminants (tea, coffee, juice, etc.), immediately treat the surface with a damp soft cloth, using light movements, then be sure to wipe dry. In the same way, dust deposits and dirt are removed. If it is not possible to get rid of the contamination immediately, it is allowed to use a 40-50% alcohol-water solution or ammonia.
If your upholstered furniture is upholstered in snow-white eco-leather or eco-leather in light tones, then for better protection of the product from contamination (for example, jeans can “tint” both artificial and natural leather furniture upholstery with a dye that cannot be removed), we recommend using special water- and dirt-repellent impregnation for natural leather, textiles and high-tech materials. These products can be purchased in almost any supermarket, stores selling shoes and clothing made of genuine leather. When choosing an impregnation, be sure to read the instructions for use. If there is an indication not use for PU (do not use for polyurethane coatings), then this product is not suitable for you.
We strongly do not recommend leaving the material wet or damp after care and cleaning procedures. This will lead to partial destruction of the polymer film, and, as a result, to premature loss of the original appearance of eco-leather.
Split
Using many years of experience as a professional participant in the furniture market, we want to tell you about counterfeiting natural furniture leather - split leather with an artificial face, a material so unsuitable for the production of office and upholstered furniture. Often, the decision to purchase a solid office chair is a serious step, implying not only financial expenses, but also the hope that this attribute of “business life” will serve the owner for a long time, delighting him with its appearance, good quality and reliability, while complementing and emphasizing its design integrity of the interior of an office or office.
A popular finishing option for such a chair is genuine furniture leather. True, the price in a store for such an impressive piece of furniture industry will certainly be very high. As a rule, they will indicate to you that this is not just genuine leather, but certainly top quality leather, luxury leather, etc. This means that you are offered a truly high-quality product, the cost of which includes the high price of genuine leather.
Wanting to save money, many buyers will opt for a product priced at 200-250 USD. (or even cheaper), in the description of which they will see the words “genuine leather”. And the sample of upholstery provided by the seller will confirm with your own eyes, with its “suede” appearance of the back side, that this is certainly genuine leather. What should be said next - “economy”, “II category”, “split leather” - they will not hear. Very often the seller will not say anything about the fact that this chair is upholstered in sawn wood. On the contrary: “genuine leather, inexpensive, only $150.” Don't believe it - the seller is lying. A correct and more accurate description of the upholstery of such a chair would sound like this: the seat and back (only those places where the human body is in direct contact with the surface) are upholstered in split wood with a 100% artificial face. The back side of the back, bottom and sides are upholstered in vinyl (PVC-based leatherette), and the cheapest one at that.
Without knowing this, a person purchases a second-rate product, which, after several months of use, will turn from a quite nice and respectable “manager’s chair” into a shapeless “seat.”
Unfortunately, the popularity of the “genuine leather” brand is often shamelessly taken advantage of by unscrupulous sellers of office chairs. They undermine the good name of both genuine leather itself and furniture manufacturers who use only modern high-quality upholstery materials in their production.
So what should we do? Is it possible to buy a presentable leather chair at an affordable price?
Perhaps, if it is upholstered not with fake leather - split leather with an artificial face, but with high-quality “breathable” artificial leather without PVC. Modern technologies allow you to save a lot of money and natural resources, offering a choice of artificial materials (such as eco-leather), which successfully replace natural leather and are in no way inferior, and in some ways even surpass it in their consumer properties.
And yet, what is a split? Why can’t split leather be called genuine leather? How does it differ from genuine leather itself? Can it compete with real leather? Can it compete with high-quality PVC-free artificial leather (eco leather)?
During the production process in tanneries, raw hides are “sawed” using special equipment, usually into three layers.
Thus, three layers of skin are formed from one skin, and only one of them, the upper “A”, has a “natural”, non-artificial face. It’s just that it is the top, “front” cut of the skin - and is called GENUINE LEATHER in the furniture, haberdashery, shoe and clothing industries.
Accordingly, split leather is the second “B” and third “C” layers of leather (skin), i.e. This is the material obtained from the inner part of the hide after cutting off the outer layer of skin. The second layer “B” is called the middle split, the bottom (third layer “C”) is called the bahtormy split.
Let's look at the similarities and differences between the properties of genuine leather and medium split leather, which is what they will offer you in the store as “economy leather”.
Genuine leather has a “natural face”; it has no artificial coating, only painting. Such skin “breathes”, i.e. allows air to pass through, absorbs and releases moisture. If the natural face of the skin has any defects or flaws, then it is sanded, primed, painted, obtaining the so-called. polished skin - accordingly, it “breathes” less well. Patent leather may not allow air to pass through at all. But! And this is very important: with any type of finishing, the genuine leather of the top layer “A” always remains genuine leather. Its elasticity, “returnability”, strength and durability rightfully place this wonderful product on a “pedestal”. In furniture, in particular in seats, the “returnability” of the upholstery is very important (the product should not lose its original shape); “flaccid” folds and characteristic “puddles” are not allowed. It is in the upper layer of the dermis that the “power” collagen fibers are concentrated, giving the skin elasticity and elasticity.
The middle split leather on both sides looks like suede, but it is not suede. It is loose, heavy, and since the strength fibers remain in the “natural leather”, the split leather does not stretch well, and if it is stretched, it does not restore its shape. Like genuine leather, untreated split leather allows air to pass through, absorbs and releases water vapor.
To expand the scope of application of split leather, namely in the haberdashery and footwear industries, it is hot pressed with various additives or impregnations, creating a 100% artificial face on one side so that it looks like leather. There are many different technologies for applying artificial coating to split leather. As a result, it is almost impossible to distinguish “finished” split leather from leather in the finished product. Because of this, split leather with an artificial face has found wide application in the haberdashery industry, since haberdashery materials, as a rule, are not subject to “returnability” requirements. Any shoe production technologist will also add to you that split leather with an artificial face, like untreated split leather, is allowed to be used only in “unloaded” shoe parts.
There are slightly different requirements for furniture upholstery materials, and the “returnability” of upholstery is one of the most important components of quality. For this reason, split leather with an artificial face is not used by sofa manufacturers on seats.
In addition, split wood with 100% artificial polymer film coating is sharply inferior in terms of breathability and wear resistance to most modern synthetic materials for upholstery. Let’s clarify the question: what is an artificial split-leaf face? As a rule, this is a film of inexpensive water-soluble polyurethanes or varnishes based on them. The application of such films or impregnation with appropriate varnishes followed by embossing is carried out directly at tanneries using very primitive technologies that exclude the use of truly high-quality polyurethane compounds. So: we have a material with “not the best performance” and a substrate, although natural, but with physical and mechanical properties that are unsatisfactory for furniture.
Eco-leather, for comparison, also has a polyurethane film, albeit from very expensive brands, which are therefore very wear-resistant. Moreover, since through the process of applying the film, through pores were formed in it, eco-leather actually allows air and water vapor to pass through. Note that a truly “breathable” polyurethane film of eco-leather is formed as a result of the use of “high technologies”, which are used only in modern factories for the production of artificial leather.
The eco-leather backing can be either cotton or polyester. This backing is specially created for upholstery of upholstered furniture; it drapes better than split wood, and its relaxation properties cannot be compared with split wood.
Recommendations for caring for natural leather
Although leather is a durable and surprisingly easy-to-handle material, it can be damaged by heat, exposure to sunlight, and cleaning agents not intended for use on leather. When caring for leather furniture, it is not recommended to use solvent, acetone, or washing powder. To remove household contaminants (tea, coffee, juice, etc.), the surface is treated with a damp soft cloth with light movements, then be sure to wipe dry. Stains must be removed immediately. Here are some stain removal techniques:
Drinks and red wine - clean with a sponge soaked in vinegar diluted with water (50%) or soap suds
Coffee, tea - cleaning with diluted ammonia (10%)
Ballpoint pen, bitumen, resin - cleaning with a sponge moistened with ethyl alcohol (90%) or turpentine oil
Oil paint - cleaning with purified turpentine and then with a sponge dipped in soapy water
However, you should always remember that cleaning products should be gentle on the skin, so that after cleaning, instead of dirty spots, faded spots on the skin do not appear. It is best to consult with specialists, and if you still decide to remove stains at home, we first recommend purchasing a special stain remover and testing its effect on a small area of skin, somewhere hidden from view.
When cleaning, avoid unnecessary friction. The surface of the skin should not be rubbed with anything harsh; brushes and abrasive cleaning materials should not be used. When cleaning, it is not recommended to use abrasive pastes, chlorine-containing bleaches and solvents, or heat treatment with household electric heating devices. Since high temperatures and exposure to direct sunlight can damage the skin, leather furniture should be placed away from windows and radiators.
Leather products must be protected from mechanical damage - scratches and cuts. Pets that can scratch the surface of the skin with their claws have no place on your sofa!
In order for leather furniture to delight you for many years, it is necessary to nourish it approximately once a year with special nourishing creams for furniture. This will prevent your skin from drying out prematurely.
Compliance with all these simple rules and careful handling of this gift of nature - natural leather - will allow you to enjoy your sofa for many years. Over time, the leather will take on an even more expensive look, will squeak pleasantly and will bring the aroma of genuine leather into your home!
Faux suede
Artificial suede is a fabric imitation of natural suede. Artificial suede is soft, velvety to the touch, has maximum visual similarity to natural material and creates a unique feeling of warmth and space. Suede is a new generation of textiles. This is real fabric made from 100% polyester on a 100% cotton backing. Has protective Teflon impregnation. Suede is highly durable and resistant to chemical and light influences. Due to its qualities, artificial suede is used in the production of upholstered furniture and is suitable for any interior. Over the years, bald spots do not form on the fabric and the fabric does not stretch from constant stress. Special tests have confirmed that this material is very durable and evenly distributes static stress.
Abrasion resistance (wear resistance)
Abrasion resistance refers to the ability of a fabric to resist surface wear caused by friction.
The Martindale test is used to obtain wear resistance data for artificial suede. To do this, the fabric being tested is mounted on a special holder, and they begin to rub it with a piece of simple woolen cloth. When performing the Martindale test, movements to create friction are performed in a figure of eight. Thus, the test piece is subjected to friction in all directions, not just warp or weft. Abrasion resistance is determined by the number of cycles after which the material becomes unacceptable.
Seam strength test
This test involves determining the strength of the fabric under seam load, that is, the moment when, under a certain load, the fabric breaks at the seam.
A standard seam is made on the fabric, which is then loaded. The test is carried out with fabric sewn perpendicular to the warp threads and with fabric sewn perpendicular to the weft threads. The load is increased to a certain level, then the resulting gap is measured (how much the seam has opened)
Rules for caring for artificial suede
Faux suede is easy to clean and can be washed in warm water. To maintain cleanliness, use a soft brush. When removing stains, you must be extremely careful and remember the simple rule from the general chemistry course, which states that “like dissolves in like,” i.e. Water-soluble stains are best cleaned with aqueous soap solutions, while oil paint stains must be removed with purified turpentine. Here are some stain removal techniques:
To remove oil and grease from artificial suede, only dry cleaning is used!
stains from fruits and vegetables are removed with a sponge in a warm soapy solution;
alcoholic drinks - washing with soap foam, cleaning with diluted methyl alcohol (10-20%);
beer - with a sponge soaked in warm water mixed with 3% methyl alcohol;
drinks and wine with a sponge soaked in vinegar diluted with water (50%) or soap suds;
coffee, tea, milk - wash with soap foam, clean stubborn stains with diluted ammonia (10%);
ballpoint pen, shoe polish, bitumen, resin, chewing gum - turpentine oil;
chocolate, sweets, blood - with a sponge soaked in soapy water and 5% ammonia;
oil paint - cleaning with purified turpentine;
cosmetics - in most cases, with a sponge soaked in a soap solution. In case of difficult to remove stains on artificial suede, 90% ethyl alcohol or 5% ammonia is used. For nail polish stains, use a special solvent.
pu leather What is this? Eco leather, pu leather, polyurethane leather - these are all names for the same material. Confused? Let's figure out together what characteristics this material has, find out its advantages and disadvantages and what are the differences from genuine leather and the usual leatherette to which we are accustomed.
In the manufacture of bags, briefcases, backpacks, and cases, PU leather or eco-leather have recently found widespread use. Possessing excellent high-tech properties, this material is becoming increasingly popular among buyers.
PU leather is a high-tech and high-quality material. This product replicates the structure of natural leather. In its production, ultra-fine fiber and high-quality polyurethane are used - this is a completely new technology.
PU coated material is the second and third layers of genuine, flawed genuine leather that has undergone special treatment with a top layer of polyurethane. It is this top layer that allows you to create artificial leather of various colors, with different patterns, but at the same time does not lose the main properties of natural leather: the ability to pass air (*breathe*) and resistance to deformation. In addition, it has a more attractive appearance than its natural counterpart. There is no need to confuse PU leather with PVC artificial leather (*leatherette*), since they are completely different in their structure, composition and properties. PVC artificial leather is made from polyvinyl chloride with plasticizers and other auxiliary components. PU leather is 1.5-2 times lighter than PVC leather, and also has better organoleptic qualities. Bags made of PU leather are more resistant to abrasion, deformation, and retain their properties even at severe subzero temperatures. The main advantage is the porous structure. This quality allows the PU-based material to *breathe*, which means that it is in this high-tech product that such hygienic indicators as breathability, vapor permeability and hygroscopicity appear.
Shoulder bags made of eco-leather, practical, beautiful, inexpensive
Maximum copying of the pattern of natural leather ensures the use of PU material almost everywhere. Visually, eco-leather is practically indistinguishable from genuine leather. PU leather is a high-tech, breathable and environmentally friendly material. It created serious competition for its natural counterpart. This material, unlike genuine leather:
- durable and wear-resistant;
- soft and pleasant to the touch;
- is not subject to fading and loss of color, does not burst under the influence of adverse environmental influences;
- does not deform under heavy loads, does not stretch;
- does not absorb moisture.
High-quality eco-leather bags are an excellent choice for men and women
In the modern world, a growing number of conservationists are opposed to the killing of animals for the use of their skins in the manufacture of various goods. That is why manufacturers of famous brands have found an ideal replacement for genuine leather. PU leather is already receiving the most positive reviews. The variety of colors and their shades, unusual textures and patterns invites the designer to realize his most original projects. The material is used to create inexpensive and at the same time high-quality bags and other accessories. It has excellent performance properties, but is relatively inexpensive to produce. Ultimately, the low cost of producing eco-leather also affects the price of goods made from it. Inexpensive bags, briefcases, and cases made of artificial leather have long come into use. Today you can find interior items everywhere, in the manufacture of which this type of material is used. In any category of products you can find the marking * PU leather *.
An excellent replacement for genuine leather - wear-resistant, high-quality and relatively inexpensive to produce material has gained immense popularity among customers.
Bags made of modern polyurethane (leatherette)- beautiful, wear-resistant accessories
From all this we see that the quality of pu leather is no worse than genuine leather, and in some respects it even surpasses it. The popularity of polyurethane leather is growing; more and more positive reviews about PU leather can be found on the Internet. And besides, its production is cheaper than genuine leather. In general, if you decide to buy a bag, briefcase or backpack made of PU leather, you definitely won’t go wrong. After all, inexpensive eco-leather bags will serve their owner for a long period of time and will always bring you joy.
Girls, as the organizer of a shoe joint venture, I’m already, as they say, boiling, the assortment includes natural and artificial ones. Apparently Norad is spoiled by the numerous assortment of CS, etc. They always want to be in trend, so they attack sellers with new words, often without knowing their meaning. It's all very simple though.
So, the materials from which shoes are made. Well, open up America and tell us what genuine leather is and that I won’t use leatherette))
I’ll reveal the secret of the fashionable word PU leather, what foreign stores are full of - America, England, Germany.
So, PU leather is high-tech material of a new generation. Its base is a polymer, and natural leather (usually defective) is usually used as the first and second layers. Thanks to the polymer applied to the base, this leather acquires a number of useful properties, which gives it undeniable advantages over natural leather, such as:
- high wear resistance
- free of harmful additives, PU leather - environmentally friendly
- has pleasant tactile properties
- resistant to wear and tear compared to ordinary leather
— PU leather does not stretch or crack
- resistant to low and high temperatures
And in addition to everything, its production is cheaper than genuine leather. One way or another, if you decide to buy something made of PU leather, you won’t go wrong... The item will serve its owner for a long time and will always bring joy.
And here press leather is what our websites and China are full of.
Sellers, without a shadow of a doubt, characterize it as genuine leather. Not being a specialist, the buyer takes the product in full confidence that he is purchasing good quality shoes. Disappointment sets in quickly - already in the first month of wearing such shoes are covered with a network of cracks, and closer to two months, as a rule, they burst at the folds.
Genuine leather is made from whole hides taken from animals. To obtain finished leather from a hide, it is necessary to carry out about fifty production processes and operations, during which its natural structure is carefully preserved. The result is a durable, wear-resistant material with good hygienic properties. “Pressed leather” is a material produced under pressure from waste from the production of natural leather. This is where the similarities end, but the differences remain.
One of the components used in the production of “pressed leather” is trimmings and scraps, chrome shavings, tanning dust and other waste remaining after the production and cutting of natural and “pressed” leather itself. The second component is synthetic binder fibers. They can be made from any synthetic material: polyester, polyamide, polyethylene... When heated, they melt and stick together. The third component is synthetic thermoplastic resins. They are introduced for additional gluing and strengthening of the fibrous structure.
“Pressed leather” can be compared to artificial leather, which was made 20 - 30 years ago. The use of a significant amount of synthetic resins, which impregnate the entire structure, produces a material with low air and moisture permeability. Studies have been conducted that show reduced strength of “pressed leather”. Its hygienic properties are not even mentioned. So shoes made from “pressed leather” will not last long, and your feet will sweat and “burn” in them.
I was prompted to write this advice by a question from one of my customers today. who asked, are you sure that this is genuine leather, maybe it’s press leather. That is. if you compare skin to candy, and pressed skin to poop. You can figure out what you asked me)))
Those. a person initially thinks that press leather is the same leather only a little cheaper. And there are a lot of them.
I hope now when choosing shoes, not a single unscrupulous seller will be able to sell you poop for the price of candy)))
Good luck and good mood)
How many times, while reading product characteristics, have you come across the abbreviation PU leather(PU) or PU leather? This material, despite its young age, has already earned popularity among consumers due to its qualities. And in this article we will figure out what this popular new product is. The first thing to start with is that PU leather is, of course, completely different from what we remember from childhood, like leatherette or leatherette. It combines the advantages of synthetic and natural materials. PU (from the English polyurethane) leather is not inferior in quality even, and in some characteristics it surpasses it.
Thanks to the polymer that is applied to its base, this leather receives a number of useful properties, which gives it such important and undeniable advantages over natural leather:
- high wear resistance;
- no harmful additives, PU leather is an environmentally friendly material;
- has pleasant tactile properties;
- leather is more resistant to wear, which gives it an advantage over natural leather;
- PU leather does not stretch or crack;
- PU leather performs well under the influence of low and high temperatures. In other words, such skin does not become stiff in the cold and does not heat up in the heat.
Polyurethane, among all polymer coatings, is the most resistant to abrasion and stretching. Thanks to the polyurethane coating, the material acquires such important qualities as strength and softness. Unlike genuine leather, polyurethane is more frost-resistant and has the most important characteristic - the ability to “breathe”, thanks to through pores. This feature is associated with high popularity, because these are such recently important hygienic indicators as air permeability, vapor permeability and hygroscopicity.
The basis of PU (PU) leather is cotton fabric, resistant to mechanical stress and stretching. In its production, microfibers and high-quality polyurethane are used, produced using new technologies. We call PU leather eco-leather because it is hypoallergenic.
High-quality PU leather has no odor, and during use it does not stretch or crack. During its manufacture, the inner layers are made from defective leather of natural origin, which has undergone special processing. The outer layer of polyurethane can be given a variety of colors and any pattern, maintaining the qualities of natural leather for air exchange and resistance to deformation, while at the same time giving a special design. That is, thanks to this, PU leather can be given a more attractive appearance than natural leather, which is very important in the rapidly moving world of fashion.
The use of PU leather is explained by the fact that this material is inexpensive compared to natural leather and is almost as good as it in terms of mechanical qualities and functionality. And what can we say about the design possibilities, because this material can be obtained in any color and structure.
All this allows us to produce watch straps at a low price, which is accordingly reflected in the cost of the finished product, while maintaining the high quality of the finished product. Some misconceptions regarding PU leather should also be dispelled.
What is leatherette?
Faux leather contains a woven base, and to produce PU leather, the top layer of inexpensive natural leather is removed, then covered with polyurethane and then embossed.
PU leather and artificial leather (PVC) PVC have nothing in common. The only thing they have in common is that they are polymers.
PVC artificial leather is made from polyvinyl chloride with the addition of a plasticizer and other additional components.
PU leather is almost two times lighter than PVC leather and, as we have already mentioned, has high organoleptic properties.
In conclusion, it should be noted that PU leather is an already proven material that is made on a natural basis. And one of its main advantages for the buyer is, of course, the price. Often the cost is almost five times lower than the same model made from genuine leather, thanks to which you can change clothes, following the latest fashion trends. And, what is so important in the use of accessories and clothing, it is unusually light, products made from PU leather can be washed in a washing machine, and you don’t even need to iron it - you just need to let it hang on a hanger for several hours.
When buying clothes, accessories and other goods, buyers pay attention to the material from which the product is made. For example, it often says: upper material - PU. What it is, many people don’t know. And then people have doubts about purchasing the new thing they like.
Modern PU material. What is this?
This material is used quite widely and, despite the fact that it appeared recently, is already well known to many for its high quality and has managed to earn popularity. PU leather has a natural base and, what is important for the buyer, is about five times less affordable than natural leather. This material has excellent performance properties, it is very light, machine washable, and does not require further ironing, since it recovers itself after drying when flattened.
PU material. What is it: dermantine or leatherette?
Many people still believe that PU leather is an ordinary leatherette or dermantine. This is a completely erroneous opinion. PVC artificial leather is polyvinyl chloride, a plasticizer and some other components. But the PU material has a completely different base, in addition, it is two times lighter than leatherette. PU, from the English word polyurethane, is comparable in quality to leather, and in some properties even surpasses it. It combines the advantages of both synthetic and natural materials.
It has a top coating of polyurethane, which is the most resistant to stretching and abrasion. The polymer applied to the base of the material provides a number of excellent characteristics: wear resistance, environmental friendliness, absence of cracks and stretching, resistance to low and high temperatures, softness and strength. Thanks to the through pores, it is able to allow air to pass through, which is a very important hygienic indicator. The upper breathable and hygroscopic coating has another important property: it is hypoallergenic.
It is important to know about the PU material, that with a base made of This makes it more resistant to stretching and mechanical stress. The most modern new technologies are used to produce microfibers and polyurethane, which are part of PU.
Production process
PU leather is made using inner layers of natural leather with imperfections that have been processed. The outer polyurethane layer allows painting in any color, drawing and embossing. Eco-leather is also a PU material; this name is also widespread and often found on product labels; it is useful to know when making purchases. The wide opportunities for realizing designers' ideas that eco-leather provides make products made from it relevant and attractive, best suited to changing fashion.
Today, the characteristics of many products indicate: the main materials are PU. Indeed, PU leather is often used in the production of watch straps, cases for mobile phones and other equipment, and women's bags. This fact is easy to explain. The material has a low price and is almost equal in quality and functionality to natural leather.
