How to distinguish the quality of PU automotive leather

Release Time:

2021-11-12

Information summary: PU leather is made from split leather with a synthetic polymer coating, such as polyurethane, applied to the surface. Polyurethane is commonly used in automobiles and furniture, and its English name is polyurethane, which is also the origin of the name PU leather.

　　PU leather is made from split leather with a synthetic polymer coating, such as polyurethane, applied to the surface. Polyurethane is commonly used in automobiles and furniture; its English name is polyurethane, which is also the origin of the name PU leather.

　　PU leather is typically made from lower-quality animal fibers from cowhide. Because cowhide can be up to 4.5 millimeters thick, it needs to be split to be used in making interior decorations, clothing, bags, or shoes. Therefore, in tanneries, cowhide is split into many layers. The top layer is the grain layer, and the bottom layer is called split leather. This split leather is often used to produce imitation suede products; when coated with polyurethane, it becomes PU leather.

　　The history of artificial leather can be traced back to the 19th century, and many different types of "fake leather" have been developed over the years. The materials used to make these "imitations" include pressed pulp, cork, collagen, plastics, and various organic and synthetic resins, giving rise to a plethora of names, including split leather, artificial cowhide, imitation leather, plain leather, and artificial leather.

　　Some of these types do not use animal leather, while others use very cheap leather materials, processing them to resemble the appearance of leather. However, unlike genuine leather which can last for generations, PU leather wears out much faster.