Appears after the color change Wipe dry or wet to remove color And Sticky to the touch These are the two most direct “hard pitfalls” in finished product results—the former means the color isn’t tightly controlled, the latter means the coating isn’t fully dry or the formula is unbalanced. The former makes people afraid to touch it, while the latter makes people unwilling to touch it. The root of both lies in this Film formation quality Something went wrong.
![Image [1]-皮革涂层故障解析：干/湿擦掉色与发粘的原因及解决方案](https://www.nleather.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260712-081325-UPQDm-nleather-silicone-leather.png "20260712-081325-UPQDm-nleather-silicone-leather – Nleather")
Dry/wet wipe discoloration — coating adhesion fails
Wipe lightly with a dry white cloth and the color will fade ( Dry wipe to remove color ), or when wiping with a damp cloth or sponge, the color shifts ( Wipe with a wet wipe to remove color ）。 This is a direct manifestation of adhesion failure.
Main cause analysis ：
| Category of causes | Specific mechanisms | High-incidence scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete cleaning and film removal (most common) | Residual silicone oil, wax, old coatings, or stains on the leather surface form a barrier layer; the color-changing paint cannot directly bond with the leather fibers and only “floats” on the surface | No professional film remover was used; only wipe with a damp cloth; Leather goods with old coatings that have aged and become hard |
| Crosslinking agent (curing agent) issue | ① Added less : The coating cannot be fully cross-linked, resulting in insufficient film formation strength and peeling off easily after wiping ② Added more : The coating becomes harder and brittle, which actually reduces adhesion and makes the entire sheet prone to peeling | Add it arbitrarily based on intuition, without following proportional procedures |
| Imbalance in resin/pigment ratio | If the pigment (color paste) ratio is too high and the resin (film-forming agent) ratio is too low, the coating lacks enough “glue” to stick pigment particles, resulting in powdery peeling | Excessive use of color paste for coverage; Use inferior color paste |
| Insufficient drying/curing | Fixatives are used or sprayed before the coating is fully cured; Too low an ambient temperature (below 10°C) causes water-based resin to fail to form a film properly | Winter construction and the humid environment of southern regions without heating; Rushing the deadline and not drying thoroughly |
| Excess hydrophilic substances | Excessive hydrophilic components such as surfactants and emulsifiers in the coating lead to Wipe with a wet wipe to remove color Obvious, but dry wiping is acceptable | Randomly adding hand texture agents, slippery agents, and other additives in the formula disrupts the film-forming properties |
Sticky to the hand—coating not fully dried or formula too soft
After coloring and drying, the leather surface still feels good to the touch Sticky feeling , Finger presses feel slight stickiness, and even the leather surface may make a sound when stacked relative to each other. This indicates that the coating has not formed a complete, dry film.
![Image [2]-皮革涂层故障解析：干/湿擦掉色与发粘的原因及解决方案](https://www.nleather.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260712-081349-uaK8G-nleather-silicone-leather.png "20260712-081349-uaK8G-nleather-silicone-leather – Nleather")
Main cause analysis ：
| Category of causes | Specific mechanisms | High-incidence scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Excessive use of flexible resin (core reason) | Resin is a film-forming material; an excessively high proportion of “soft resin” causes the coating’s glass transition temperature (Tg) to be too low, resulting in a viscoelastic rather than glassy state at room temperature, naturally sticky to the touch | Excessive use of soft resin in pursuit of a “soft feel”; The formula design is unreasonable |
| The coating is too thick, and the inside is not fully dried | If the spray is too thick in one go or too many times, the surface may appear dry but the internal moisture/solvent has not fully evaporated, resulting in a “dry outside, wet inside” state | Repeatedly spray thickly to cover the base color; Improper spraying technique and excessive flow rate |
| Excess of non-film-forming substances/additives | Excessive addition of plasticizers, waxes, surfactants, and other non-film-forming substances cannot participate in film formation and become free in the coating, causing stickiness | Arbitrarily adding various tactile agents and brighteners without controlling the total amount |
| Incomplete curing | Moisture/solvent not fully evaporated; Or the crosslinking reaction is insufficient (low temperature, short time), and the coating is in a semi-cured state | Construction in low-temperature, high-humidity environments; It is put into use without being left unused long enough |
Suitable for dry wiping and wet wiping off Color
Assess the severity
Slight fading (After 3-5 wipes with a damp cloth, slight staining occurs): Try respraying Fixative Or Crosslinking agents (Dilute and spray thinly), enhancing surface fastness
Moderate fading (Dry cloth wipes off easily): indicates that adhesion has not been established at all, so it needs to be used Complete rework required
Severe color fading (Peeling off or rubbing off the whole piece): Absolutely Reapply after film removal
Rework operation process (moderate or above)
Completely remove the membrane : Use professionally Release agents , the existing faded coating Completely clear , exposing the natural color of the leather, with no old coating remaining
Re-clean : to use Degreasing cleaner Thoroughly clean the leather surface to remove oils, waxes, and residual film release agents
Strengthen the base adhesion : Before spraying the first layer of color, first spray a thin layer Strong adhesive Or Adhesion promoters , connecting the leather surface and the coating
Correct proportions ：
- Resin to color paste ratio suggestion 4:1 ~ 5:1 ， The minimum is enough to cover the base color; don’t overuse the color just to cover it up
- Crosslinking agent: Added according to product instructions, usually in resin amount 0.5%~3% (About 50ml of color paste with 20 drops), Better to have less than more
Spray thinly multiple times and dry thoroughly ：
- Adopt Cross-crossing method , each spray layer is extremely thin, Once it is completely dry (non-sticky), spray another layer
- Available between floors Low-temperature air blowing (30-50°C) Assists in drying, Do not blow directly at high temperatures
Fully cured ：
- After all spraying is complete, Leave it standing for at least 24 hours in environments above 20°C , allowing the coating to fully cure
- After curing is complete, spray the coating Fixative Or Protective layer (A small amount of crosslinking agent can be added) to enhance abrasion resistance
Test and acceptance
Use White wet towel Rub vigorously 3-5 times, No obvious fading and thus it is considered qualified
Regarding this Bright red, royal blue, purple Colors required for high fastness can be selected Odorless highlighter fixative Spray more appropriately, and slightly increase the amount of crosslinking agent
![Image [3]-皮革涂层故障解析：干/湿擦掉色与发粘的原因及解决方案](https://www.nleather.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260712-081433-Kpbif-nleather-silicone-leather.png "20260712-081433-Kpbif-nleather-silicone-leather – Nleather")
Addressing sticky hands
Determine the cause
Use Hot wind Blow Areas that stick to your hands: if The stickiness temporarily disappears , and after cooling, → appears Excessive soft resin ； If It remains sticky throughout → Not fully dried or with excessive additives
Immediate processing
Mild stickiness : Spray a layer by Rigid varnish + wax Composed of Anti-stick coating agents Or Water-based fixatives , which improves stickiness after drying
Moderate stickiness : to use Slippery agent Or Sensitizer A thin spray can reduce the stickiness on the surface, but it only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause
Severe stickiness (Severe stickiness, stacked adhesion): Must Reapply after film removal , adjust the formula ratio
Formula adjustment during reapplication
A combination of soft and hard elements : Added to the recipe About 30% hard resin (such as high-modulus polyurethane), used together with soft resins to balance feel and elasticity
Control additives : Non-film-forming additives such as hand feelers, slippery agents, plasticizers, etc., Total addition not exceeding 5% of resin content , if possible, they won’t add more
Reduce coating thickness ： Spray 3-5 layers thinly Far superior to thick spraying with 1-2 layers, preventing both sticking and cracking
Improve drying conditions
Ensure the construction environment Temperature>20°C, humidity <70% ； Winter construction is available Heated room or incubator (30-50°C) Medium-dry
After spraying Let it sit for at least 48 hours Then put into use, allowing the coating to dry thoroughly and cure completely
quick handling suggestions
| Types of problems | Core features | The root cause | Quick judgment | Processing the core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fading (dry/wet wipe) | Color changes when wiped | Insufficient adhesion | Wipe 3-5 times with a damp cloth to check the degree of staining | Strengthen the base bond + correct proportions + fully cure |
| Sticky to the touch | The leather surface is sticky and sticky | The coating is not fully dried or the formula is too soft | Viscosity changes after hot blowing | Increases hard resin + thinned coating + improves drying |
A mnemonic ：
Fading means “not catching the mark” → The key lies in Thorough cleaning, proper proportions, and complete curing
Sticky to the hand means “not fully drying/too soft” → The key lies in Control thickness, control softness, and ensure thorough drying
💡 Special reminder : Regarding Aniline leather For leather that seeks transparency, if fading or stickiness occurs, simply layering the coating is not recommended. The condition of the raw hide should be assessed first, and if necessary, After the film is completely removed , changed to ‘ Penetrating soft resin + metal complexing dye Reapplying it is necessary to maintain the feel without fading.
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