Leather can be divided into many types due to different materials used, types of substrates, production processes, and purposes. Below is a list of several common types of leather on the market.
genuine leather
Genuine leather is made by coating the surface of animal skin with a layer of polyurethane (PU) or acrylic resin, which is conceptually different from artificial leather made from chemical fiber materials. The genuine leather commonly referred to in the market is one of three types: first layer leather, second layer leather, and synthetic leather, mainly consisting of cowhide. The main features are breathability, comfortable hand feel, and strong toughness; Odorous, easily discolored, difficult to care for, and prone to hydrolysis.
PVC LEATHER
PVC leather, also known as polyvinyl chloride synthetic leather, is a paste made by coating PVC, plasticizers, stabilizers and other additives on fabrics, or by laminating a layer of PVC film and then processing it through a certain process. The main features are easy processing, wear resistance, aging resistance, and low cost; Poor breathability, hardening and brittleness at low temperatures, and stickiness at high temperatures. The extensive use of plasticizers can harm the human body and cause serious pollution, with a strong odor. Therefore, it has gradually been abandoned by people.
PU leather
PU leather, also known as polyurethane synthetic leather, is processed by coating PU resin on fabrics. The main features are comfortable hand feel, close to genuine leather, high mechanical strength, multiple colors, and wide application range; Not wear-resistant, almost impermeable, easily hydrolyzed, prone to delamination and peeling, prone to cracking at high and low temperatures, and polluting the environment during production
Microfiber leather
The base of microfiber leather is ultrafine fibers, and the surface coating is mainly composed of polyurethane (PU) or acrylic resin. His characteristics are good hand feel, good formability, strong toughness, good wear resistance, good uniformity, and good flexural strength; Easy to break, not environmentally friendly, not breathable, poor comfort.
Technology cloth
The main component of technology fabric is Polyester, which looks like leather but feels like fabric. Its characteristics include the texture and color of genuine leather, good breathability, high comfort, strong durability, and the ability to freely match fabrics; But the price is high, the repair points are limited, the surface is prone to dirt and difficult to maintain, and it will change color after cleaning.
Silicone leather (semi silicone)
Most of the semi silicone products appearing on the market are coated with a thin layer of organic silicon on the surface of solvent-free PU leather, strictly speaking PU leather. However, after coating with the organic silicon layer, the leather's ease of cleaning and waterproofness are greatly enhanced, and the other characteristics are still PU.
Silicone leather (all silicone)
Organic silicone leather is a synthetic leather product that looks and feels like leather and can be used as a substitute. Usually made with fabric as the base and coated with 100% organic silicon polymer. There are mainly two types of synthetic leather: silicone resin synthetic leather and silicone rubber synthetic leather. Organic silicone leather has advantages such as no odor, hydrolysis resistance, weather resistance, environmental friendliness, easy cleaning, high and low temperature resistance, acid alkali salt resistance, light resistance, heat aging resistance, yellowing resistance, tortuosity resistance, disinfectability, and strong color fastness.