Artificial leather

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An artificial leather bag strap, made from plastic Reproduction Mk VII Gas Mask Bag -11.jpg
An artificial leather bag strap, made from plastic

Artificial leather, also called synthetic leather, is a material intended to substitute for leather in upholstery, clothing, footwear, and other uses where a leather-like finish is desired but the actual material is cost prohibitive or unsuitable, or for ethical concerns. Artificial leather is known under many names, including leatherette, imitation leather, faux leather, vegan leather, PU leather (polyurethane), and pleather. [1]

Contents

Uses

Artificial leathers are often used in clothing fabrics, furniture upholstery, water craft upholstery, and automotive interiors. [2]

One of its primary advantages, especially in cars, is that it requires little maintenance in comparison to leather, and does not crack or fade easily, though the surface of some artificial leathers may rub and wear off with time. [2] Artificial leather made from polyurethane is washable, but varieties made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are not easily cleaned. [3]

Fashion

Depending on the construction, the artificial leather may be porous and breathable, or may be impermeable and waterproof.

Porous artificial leather with a non-woven microfibre backing is a popular choice for clothing, and is comfortable to wear. [4]

Manufacture

Steps to make synthetic polyurethane leather:
The base fabric
A polyurethane coating is applied
A color coat is added
A textured finish is added Synthetic PU leather HC1.jpg
Steps to make synthetic polyurethane leather:
  1. The base fabric
  2. A polyurethane coating is applied
  3. A color coat is added
  4. A textured finish is added

Many different methods for the manufacture of imitation leathers have been developed.

A current method is to use an embossed release paper known as casting paper as a form for the surface finish, often mimicking the texture of top-grain leather. This embossed release paper holds the final texture in negative. For the manufacture, the release paper is coated with several layers of plastic e.g. PVC or polyurethane, possibly including a surface finish, a colour layer, a foam layer, an adhesive, a fabric layer, a reverse finish. Depending on the specific process, these layers may be wet or partially cured at the time of integration. The artificial leather is cured, then the release paper is removed and possibly reused. [6]

A fermentation method of making collagen, the main chemical in real leather, is under development. [7]

Materials to make vegan leather can be derived from fungi, yeasts and bacterial strains using biotechnological processes. [8]

Historical methods

One of the earliest artificial leathers was Presstoff. Invented in 19th century Germany, it was made of specially layered and treated paper pulp. It gained its widest use in Germany during the Second World War in place of leather, which under wartime conditions was rationed. Presstoff could be used in almost every application normally filled by leather, excepting items like footwear that were repeatedly subjected to flex wear or moisture. Under these conditions, Presstoff tends to delaminate and lose cohesion.

Another early example was Rexine, a leathercloth fabric produced in the United Kingdom by Rexine Ltd of Hyde, near Manchester. It was made of cloth surfaced with a mixture of nitrocellulose, camphor oil, alcohol, and pigment, embossed to look like leather. It was used as a bookbinding material and upholstery covering, especially for the interiors of motor vehicles and the interiors of railway carriages produced by British manufacturers beginning in the 1920s, its cost being around a quarter that of leather. [9]

Poromerics are made from a plastic coating (usually a polyurethane) on a fibrous base layer (typically a polyester). The term poromeric was coined by DuPont as a derivative of the terms porous and polymeric. The first poromeric material was DuPont's Corfam, introduced in 1963 at the Chicago Shoe Show. Corfam was the centerpiece of the DuPont pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair in New York City. After spending millions of dollars marketing the product to shoe manufacturers, DuPont withdrew Corfam from the market in 1971 and sold the rights to a company in Poland.

Leatherette is also made by covering a fabric base with a plastic. The fabric can be made of natural or synthetic fiber which is then covered with a soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) layer. Leatherette is used in bookbinding and was common on the casings of 20th century cameras.

Cork leather is a natural-fiber alternative made from the bark of cork oak trees that has been compressed, similar to Presstoff.

Environmental effect

The production of the PVC used in the production of many artificial leathers requires a plasticizer called a phthalate to make it flexible and soft. PVC requires petroleum and large amounts of energy thus making it reliant on fossil fuels. During the production process carcinogenic byproducts, dioxins, are produced which are toxic to humans and animals. [10] Dioxins remain in the environment long after PVC is manufactured. [11] When PVC ends up in a landfill it does not decompose like genuine leather and can release dangerous chemicals into the water and soil. [12]

Polyurethane is currently more popular for use than PVC. [13]

The production of some artificial leathers requires plastic, with others, called plant-based leathers, only requiring plant-based materials; the inclusion of artificial materials in the production of artificial leathers notably raises sustainability issues. [14] However, some reports state that the manufacture of artificial leather is still more sustainable than that of real leather, with the Environmental Profit & Loss, a sustainability report developed in 2018 by Kering, stating that the impact of vegan-leather production can be up to a third lower than real leather. [14]

Some artificial leathers may have traces of restricted substances, like paint ingredient butanone oxime, according to a study by the FILK Freiberg Institiute. [15]

Brand names

1968 Mercedes Benz 280SE (W108) seats and door trim in blue MB-Tex 1968 Mercedes Benz W108 Interior Front Seats.jpg
1968 Mercedes Benz 280SE (W108) seats and door trim in blue MB-Tex

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiber</span> Natural or synthetic substance made of long, thin filaments

Fiber or fibre is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often incorporate fibers, for example carbon fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubber and PVC fetishism</span> Type of fetish towards latex clothing

Rubber fetishism, or latex fetishism, is the fetishistic attraction to people wearing latex clothing or, in certain cases, to the garments themselves. PVC fetishism is closely related to rubber fetishism, with the former referring to shiny clothes made of the synthetic plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the latter referring to clothes made of rubber, which is generally thicker, less shiny, and more matte than latex. PVC is sometimes confused with the similarly shiny patent leather, which is also a fetish material. Latex or rubber fetishists sometimes refer to themselves as "rubberists". Male rubberists tend to call themselves "rubbermen".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patent leather</span> Type of coated leather

Patent leather is a type of coated leather that has a high-gloss finish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microfiber</span> Synthetic fiber

Microfiber is synthetic fiber finer than one denier or decitex/thread, having a diameter of less than ten micrometers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamination</span> Technique of fusing layers of material

Lamination is the technique/process of manufacturing a material in multiple layers, so that the composite material achieves improved strength, stability, sound insulation, appearance, or other properties from the use of the differing materials, such as plastic. A laminate is a permanently assembled object created using heat, pressure, welding, or adhesives. Various coating machines, machine presses and calendering equipment are used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upholstery</span> Covering of furniture with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather

Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word also refers to the materials used to upholster something.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Window blind</span> Type of window covering

A window blind is a type of window covering. There are many different kinds of window blinds which use a variety of control systems. A typical window blind is made up of several long horizontal or vertical slats of various types of hard material, including wood, plastic or metal which are held together by cords that run through the blind slats. Vertical blinds run along a track system which can tilt open and closed and move side-to-side. Window blinds can be manoeuvred with either a manual or remote control by rotating them from an open position, with slats spaced out, to a closed position where slats overlap and block out most of the light. There are also several types of window coverings, called shades, that use a single piece of soft material instead of slats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyvek</span> Brand of synthetic polyethylene fiber

Tyvek is a brand of synthetic flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers. The name "Tyvek" is a registered trademark of the American multinational chemical company DuPont, which discovered and commercialized Tyvek in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flocking (texture)</span> Artistic technique

Flocking is the process of depositing many small fiber particles onto a surface. It can also refer to the texture produced by the process, or to any material used primarily for its flocked surface. Flocking of an article can be performed for the purpose of increasing its value. It can also be performed for functional reasons including insulation, slip-or-grip friction, retention of a liquid film, and low reflectivity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonwoven fabric</span> Sheet of fibers

Nonwoven fabric or non-woven fabric is a fabric-like material made from staple fibre (short) and long fibres, bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. The term is used in the textile manufacturing industry to denote fabrics, such as felt, which are neither woven nor knitted. Some non-woven materials lack sufficient strength unless densified or reinforced by a backing. In recent years, non-wovens have become an alternative to polyurethane foam.

Bicast leather is a material made with a split leather backing covered with an embossed layer of polyurethane or vinyl. Bicast leather was originally made for the apparel industry for glossy shoes, and was later adopted by the furniture industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonded leather</span>

Bonded leather, also called reconstituted leather, composition leather or blended leather, is a term used for a manufactured upholstery material which contains animal hide. It is made as a layered structure of a fiber or paper backer covered with a layer of shredded leather fibers mixed with natural rubber or a polyurethane binder that is embossed with a leather-like texture.

Clarino (クラリーノ) is a brand name for artificial leather manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. of Japan. It is commonly used in garments, accessories, bags, shoes, furniture, and consumer electronics. Versions are made that simulate suede and top-grain leather.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultrasuede</span> Type of synthetic ultra-microfiber fabric

Ultrasuede is the trade name for a synthetic ultra-microfiber fabric invented in 1970 by Dr. Miyoshi Okamoto, a scientist working for Toray Industries. In Japan, it is sold under the brand name Ecsaine. It is often described as an artificial substitute for suede leather. The fabric is multifunctional: it is used in fashion, interior decorating, automobile and other vehicle upholstery, and industrial applications, such as protective fabric for electronic equipment. It is also a very popular fabric in the manufacture of footbags and juggling balls. Other manufacturers such as Sensuede and Majilite also produce similar product lines of synthetic microfiber suede.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presstoff</span> German artificial leather

Presstoff is the German-language term for a type of ersatz or artificial leather used during the first half of the 20th century. It was one of the oldest artificial leather.

Rexine was the registered trademark of an artificial leather leathercloth fabric produced in the United Kingdom by Rexine Ltd of Hyde, near Manchester, England. It was made of cloth surfaced with a mixture of cellulose nitrate, camphor oil, pigment and alcohol, embossed to look like leather. Rexine was discontinued in 2005, but similar leathercloth fabrics continue to be produced by multiple manufacturers, including the original manufacturer.

Fabrikoid, patented in October 1915, is a brand of artificial leather manufactured by DuPont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PVC clothing</span> Clothing made from PVC fabric

PVC clothing is shiny clothing made from the plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC plastic is often called "vinyl" and this type of clothing is commonly known as "vinyl clothing". PVC is sometimes confused with the similarly shiny patent leather.

Plant-based leather, also known as vegan leather or eco-leather, is a type of material made from plant-based sources as an alternative to traditional leather, which is typically made from animal hides. Plant-based leather can be made from a variety of sources, including pineapple leaves, mushrooms, corn, apple peels, and recycled plastic. The growing interest in sustainable and environmentally friendly products has led to increased demand for plant-based leather in recent years.

References

  1. Shaeffer, Claire (10 November 2003). Sew Any Fabric: A Quick Reference to Fabrics from A to Z. New York City: Penguin. p. 37. ISBN   978-1-4402-2033-3.
  2. 1 2 Blesius, Jim (7 April 2014). "What is Faux Leather?" . Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  3. Ujević, Darko; Kovacevic, Stana; Wadsworth, Larry C.; Schwarz, Ivana; Šajatović, Blaženka Brlobašić (October 2009). "Analysis of Artificial Leather With Textile Fabric on the Backside" (PDF). Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management. 6 (2): 1, 2 via Research Gate.
  4. Zhao, Baobao; Qian, Yao; Qian, Xiaoming; Fan, Jintu; Liu, Fan; Duo, Yongchao (June 2018). "Preparation and Properties of Split Microfiber Synthetic Leather". Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics. 13 (2): 155892501801300. doi: 10.1177/155892501801300203 . ISSN   1558-9250. S2CID   106400171 . Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  5. "PU Synthetic Leather". Gofar Synthetic Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 May 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2005.
  6. "About Castingpapers | CASTING PAPERS R-series". www.castingpapers.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  7. Kolodny, Lora (9 March 2018). "This leather is made in a lab, not from livestock". CNBC. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  8. Liu, Jize (9 March 2023). "Recent advances concerning polyurethane in leather applications: an overview of conventional and greener solutions". Collagen and Leather. 5 (1): 5. doi: 10.1186/s42825-023-00116-8 . Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  9. "Glossary of Bookbinding Terms P-S". Redeye.co.nz. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  10. US EPA, ORD (28 January 2014). "Learn about Dioxin". US EPA. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  11. Saibu, Salametu; Adebusoye, Sunday A.; Oyetibo, Ganiyu O. (1 February 2020). "Aerobic bacterial transformation and biodegradation of dioxins: a review". Bioresources and Bioprocessing. 7 (1): 1–21. doi: 10.1186/s40643-020-0294-0 . ISSN   2197-4365.
  12. Chamas, Ali; Moon, Hyunjin; Zheng, Jiajia; Qiu, Yang; Tabassum, Tarnuma; Jang, Jun Hee; Abu-Omar; Scott, Susannah L.; Suh, Sangwon (9 March 2020). "Degradation Rates of Plastics in the Environment". ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 8 (9): 3494–3511. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06635 . ISSN   2168-0485.
  13. "Vegan Leather Isn't As Ethical As You Think". Vocativ. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  14. 1 2 Davis, Jessica (17 April 2020). "Is vegan leather worse for the environment than real leather?". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  15. Roshitsh, Kaley (8 December 2021). "Is 'Vegan' Leather Worse for the Environment Than Real Leather?". WWD. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  16. "What is MB-Tex Seat Upholstery? - MB-Tex vs. Leather". www.loebermotors.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2018.

Further reading