Artificial leather material testing

Artificial leather is made by foaming or laminating various formulas of PVC and PU based on textile or non-woven fabrics. It can be processed according to different strength and color, luster, pattern patterns, and other requirements. It has the characteristics of a wide variety of colors, good waterproof performance, neat edges, high utilization rate, and relatively cheap price compared to genuine leather. However, the vast majority of artificial leather, Its feel and elasticity cannot achieve the effect of genuine leather; On its longitudinal section, fine bubble holes, thin films on the fabric or surface layer, and dry artificial fibers can be seen. Artificial leather is generally divided into several categories based on its composition: one is PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which produces water, carbon dioxide, chlorinated compounds, and even chlorine gas after combustion; The second type is PE (polyethylene), which, after full combustion, theoretically only produces water and carbon dioxide; The third type, also commonly known, is PU leather (polyurethane). After full combustion, the products include water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and a small amount of nitrogen-containing compounds. In fact, when burning these artificial leather, there are other components involved, because when producing and processing these artificial materials (organic polymer compounds), additives such as solvents, initiators, leveling agents, thickeners, surfactants, etc. need to be added. They will more or less remain in the artificial leather, and the composition after burning depends on the specific additives you use. The combustion products of artificial leather materials, such as chlorine compounds, chlorine gas, nitrogen containing compounds, etc., are harmful to the human body. Therefore, we cannot casually burn these artificial materials. The difference between the types of leather available in the market is mainly divided into several types: cowhide, pigskin, and artificial leather, as well as some international brands using suede. Type: Pig skin, with strength but large pores and unattractive appearance, making it easy to identify. Type 2: Cow skin, second only in strength to pig skin, has a delicate surface but is more prone to damage. Type 3: Artificial leather, with a very delicate surface, can be flawless and durable, but has certain defects in breathability. Below are the specific distinguishing points: Real leather refers to natural leather processed from animal skin. Artificial leather refers to synthetic leather or other leather like products that are actually artificially synthesized from basic chemical raw materials. The structure of natural leather is very complex, and it is extremely difficult or even impossible to produce it seamlessly by manual labor under current conditions. Sometimes artificial leather can also be 'fake for real', but my following method will make it? You can immediately learn to distinguish! 1. The shape of natural leather is irregular, and its thickness is uneven. The surface often has some natural defects to some extent, light or heavy. The surface is smooth and delicate, and the edges and abdomen are generally loose. Full material leather has obvious pores and patterns, and there is generally pile inside the leather. Synthetic leather has a uniform thickness, a smooth surface, and no natural defects. Its pores and patterns are also very uniform, and the leather is generally free of lint. 2. For finished leather products, it is difficult to distinguish between genuine leather and artificial leather, especially leather products with small area, tight structure, and no visible inside. The identification method for this type of product is to first look at the appearance, with a uniform texture, no damage, no coarse lines, and the possibility of any defects is artificial leather; There are some differences in the texture of leather, especially in the junction between the main and secondary parts of leather products. Carefully observe the distribution and shape of pores; Natural leather has many holes and is not suitable for bottoming out, slightly inclined; The ones with shallow and vertical pores may be synthetic leather modified topcoats. In addition, from a cross-sectional perspective, the cross-sectional fibers of natural leather have their own characteristics, and the thickness of each layer of fibers varies. The fiber layers of synthetic leather are basically uniform, and the surface layer is in the shape of a plastic film. 3. Drip test: Natural leather has strong water absorption, while artificial leather may have strong water absorption. 4. Tension and elasticity test: Natural leather has good elasticity and tension, while conversely, it is synthetic leather. 5. Blowing test: It can be aimed at the reverse side of the leather with mouth water to blow air, and leakage occurs on the front side. It is precisely because the leather has this "anti reverse performance" that when you wear leather clothing, the cold resistance effect is very obvious, and it also forms good breathability, which fully reflects the value of the leather. 6. Visual identification method: Firstly, the patterns and pores of the leather should be distinguished. On the surface of natural leather, patterns and pores can be seen to exist and are unevenly distributed. There are animal fibers on the reverse side, side sections, and layers that are clearly distinguishable. There are animal fibers on the lower layer, and scraping with a fingernail will cause the leather fibers to stand up and feel fluffy. A small amount of fibers can also fall off, while on the reverse side of synthetic leather, the fabric can be seen, There is no animal fiber on the side, and generally there are no pores on the epidermis, but some have imitation leather artificial pores, which may have inconspicuous pores, some patterns are also not obvious, or there are regular artificial patterns, and the pores are also quite consistent. 7. Handfeel identification method: Secondly, genuine leather has a flexible feel. When the leather is bent down by about 90 degrees, natural wrinkles will appear. The thickness and amount of the wrinkles produced by bending different parts are significantly uneven, and it can be basically considered genuine leather. Because genuine leather has a naturally uneven fiber tissue composition, the wrinkles formed are also significantly uneven in appearance. Synthetic leather, on the other hand, feels like plastic and has poor resilience, with similar crease thickness when bent. 8. Odor identification method: Natural leather has a strong fur like odor, which is more pronounced even after treatment, while synthetic leather products have a plastic like odor without fur like odor. 9. Combustion identification method: mainly involves smelling the odor of burning and observing the state of ash. When natural leather burns, it emits a smell of burnt hair, and the burnt ash is generally fragile into powder. However, artificial leather has a strong flame after combustion, contracts quickly, and has a very unpleasant plastic smell. After burning, it becomes sticky, but after cooling, it hardens and becomes lumpy