| What is Faux Leather? | Faux leather is one of several names given to artificial or synthetic leather. These names are often used to describe specific end uses of synthetic leather products such as faux leather (sofa, chair and headboard upholstery), leatherette (auto upholstery, clothing), and koskin (consumer goods). There are three primary types of faux leather construction: polyurethane (âPUâ), polyvinyl chloride (PVC â âVinylâ), and silicone. Click for more information |   |
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| XXConstruction XXBasics |  | |
| XX Polyurethane XX XX Overview | Polyurethane (PU) is a composite material made of: (1) one or more layers of polymer resins joined by urethane links; and (2) a woven or non-woven textile backing such as polyester, cotton, nylon, or ground leather. The PU coating is applied to a single side of the base fabric and then treated to look more like animal hide. This makes the fabric water resistant, light weight and flexible. This fabric provides the most realistic imitation of leather when it comes to its soft supple hand. When stitched, gathered, or tufted it actually âbreaksâ or wrinkles like real leather. PU resins are made of a soft polymer and unlike vinyl donât need added plasticizers. Because no plasticizers are used in PU upholstery there is no cracking or peeling, and it remains soft and supple for the duration of time it remains on the furniture. PU fabrics are also easier to decorate. PU is considered greener than vinyl because it does not create dioxins. PU costs less than real leather, but it can be more expensive to produce than vinyl. Click for more information |  |
| XX Phthalates XX Myths vs Facts | Phthalates are a class of plasticizers, some of which have been used for more than 80 years to soften or âplasticizeâ vinyl plastics in order to make them flexible. They are found in many useful everyday vinyl products, from decorative coated fabrics and upholstery to wall coverings, flooring and medical devices like blood bags. For coated fabrics, phthalatesâ useful properties make them easy to process, as well as more durable, versatile and affordable. â Phthalates are colorless liquids with little or no odor and low volatility. People outside our industry often refer to phthalates as a single substance when, in fact, there are at least 14 different types of phthalates currently used in commerce. Each individual phthalate differs from the other, an important factor when considering which best meets the requirements for each specific flexible vinyl product. â Phthalates normally used in the coated fabrics industry continue to be considered safe for this application. This conclusion is supported by multiple government agency reviews from the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. Despite this, phthalates, as a class, are the subject of misleading claims that result in unnecessary concern and confusion. This FOCUS is intended to help customers distinguish fact from myth in product claims. Click here for more information Additional information may be found here |  |
| XXPVC (polyvinyl XXchloride) and XXPU(polyurethane) | PU OR PVC FOR UPHOLSTERY Which coated fabric is the better choice for upholstery, polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC)? The answer likely depends on design goals and the intended application. Both fabrics offer attractive solutions for a wide range of applications â from offices and break rooms to lobbies and auto interiors. â Each material is a composite of one or more layers of polymer coating or film bonded to a flexible substrate. Expanded vinyl is comprised of a knit fabric, a foam layer and a vinyl film layer. PVCâs properties depend entirely on additives, which comprise more than half of the formulation. Modifications to the vinyl compound can be made right at the coating line. â PU coated fabrics are usually comprised of a woven or non-woven textile coated with one or more layers of PU. Some are saturated, or coated, with a layer of coagulated PU for breathability. Modifications to the polymer, however, must be made in a reactor or blender. â Each is engineered to meet the functional requirements of specific applications while providing the desired design and aesthetic appeal. In seating, both materials can be laminated to urethane foams for body and the desired compression resistance and rebound. â PU and PVC do have notable differences, particularly in terms of their appearance, performance properties in use, and price. Following are relevant characteristics to help you select the best fabric for the application. Click here for more information |   |
|  Silicone Overview | Silicone textiles are the newest coated fabrics available for seating upholstery. Silicone offers several advantages over traditional coated fabrics including a more environmentally responsible manufacturing process and finished product. Silicone fabrics also demonstrate exceptional performance characteristics. For many years, coated fabrics have been defined as either Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or Polyurethane (PU) textiles. They are two different polymer-based platforms, which have their own strengths and weaknesses. Both platforms are used in upholstery applications from residential to contract,  and hospitality to healthcare. PVC has long been recognized as the go-to workhorse for extreme use conditions, especially in public spaces. Polyurethanes are recognized for their soft hand, unique surface feeling, and versatile design options. Both continue to thrive and offer robust options to the end-users. However, new to our industry are silicone coated textiles. Silicone has been around for years and has been used in many different industries such as electronics, medical, consumer products, and construction. Today we are hearing much more in our industry about silicone coated textiles. From 100% silicone to silicone hybrids and topcoats, silicone is the latest and arguably most exciting coated polymer to join the family of coated textiles. As with any new product platform, end-users of silicone upholstery will benefit from access to technical expertise and accurate information about the productâs features and benefits. Well-informed buyers will be more confident in their decision to use silicone upholstery in even the most demanding environments. Below are answers to some often-asked questions about silicone fabrics. Click here for more information |  |
