what is pu leather

Contents

Introduction

Pu leather is also called synthetic leather or artificial leather. It is made of polyurethane material. It is made by coating polyurethane on a leather substrate. It has the characteristics of wear resistance, scratch resistance, waterproofness, sweat absorption, etc. It is widely used in various industries. If you are a professional buyer or leather practitioner, thank you for browsing our article and can provide improvement suggestions.

How pu leather is made?

Making pu leather is a very professional job. From selecting raw materials to making processes, we must control the parameters and techniques of each link to ensure that the leather after production meets the customer’s product usage standards.
PU polyurethane for leather

Choose raw materials

Pu leather raw materials are divided into polyurethane and leather base material; if you want to get high-quality pu leather or leather that can meet your product needs, you must understand the knowledge of polyurethane

Classification of polyurethane

  • Classification by form

Hard polyurethane: usually used for thermal insulation materials, furniture, etc., with high strength and hardness.

Soft polyurethane: used for synthetic leather, foam mattresses, etc., with good flexibility and comfort.

  • Classification by use

Polyurethane coating: used for the protection of wood, metal and other surfaces, with good wear resistance and chemical resistance.

Polyurethane elastomer: used in automobiles, soles, sports equipment, etc., with good elasticity and durability.

Polyurethane foam: used in mattresses, sofas, car seats, etc., to provide comfortable support.

  • Classification by chemical composition

Polyether polyurethane: usually has good water resistance and low temperature resistance, and is widely used in various fields.

Polyester polyurethane: usually has higher wear resistance and mechanical strength, suitable for industrial fields.

Polyurethane Brands

  • BASF: A leading global chemical company that provides a variety of polyurethane products, which are widely used in the fields of construction, automobiles, footwear, etc.
  • Huntsman: Focuses on polyurethane chemistry, with products covering elastomers, foams and coatings, with high performance and environmental protection characteristics.
  • Wanhua Chemical: A leading polyurethane manufacturer in China, providing a variety of polyurethane raw materials, which are widely used in multiple industries.
  • Mitsui Chemicals: Provides a variety of polyurethane products, especially in the automotive and construction fields.
  • Suggestion: If you communicate with a leather manufacturer, you can tell him what product characteristics you need to produce a certain product. I believe this is a good suggestion for you.

Pu leather production process

Leather production is divided into two major production processes: dry process and wet process. 

Wet process: placing cloth (base cloth) → coating → solidification → washing → drying → winding

Dry process: placing release paper → coating → laminating → drying → peeling and winding

Is Pu leather environmentally friendly?

If you don’t hunt animals to produce genuine leather, it is relatively environmentally friendly, but PU leather is artificial synthetic leather, and no environmentally friendly materials are added during the production process, so it is also not environmentally friendly leather. This kind of leather is relatively cheap, and the price of environmentally friendly leather is relatively high.

Pu leather types

What products are Pu leather suitable for?

Pu leather is most commonly used in women’s bags, badminton rackets/tennis rackets/golf grips, sofas, chairs, car interiors, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of Pu leather

Advantages of Pu leather

Environmental protection

Natural degradation

Anti-aging

Wide range of uses

Non-toxic and odorless

Strong touch

Disadvantages of Pu leather

Low durability
Poor breathability
Environmental issues
Susceptible to heat damage
Maintenance requirements
Different feel

How to care for PU leather

Clean regularly

The frequency of leather maintenance depends on how often you use the product. We usually recommend maintenance every 2 months and deep cleaning with a detergent every six months. This can effectively protect the appearance of the leather and even extend its service life.

Avoid extreme environments

It is not recommended to place any leather product in extreme environments for a long time, whether it is hot sunshine or extremely cold weather and excessive humidity, because high temperature causes the leather oil to evaporate, lose its softness, become dry and brittle, and fade; extremely cold environment causes the leather to lose its elasticity and softness, causing it to crack and damage; humid environment causes the leather to absorb moisture, resulting in the growth of mold or expansion and deformation

Safe storage

When leather products are not in use, we can wrap them in cloth bags or plastic bags and store them in a constant temperature environment. Place insect repellent around them. If it is leather furniture, we can cover it with cloth to avoid bacterial growth. The storage environment should avoid contact with sharp objects to prevent scratches and punctures. In addition, regular inspection and maintenance are required.

Pu leather wholesale plan

Thank you for reading our website to learn about leather. If your company has a recent purchase plan, please consult us to provide you with a free one-stop leather solution.

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