Eco-friendly PVC artificial leather is showing a development trend

PVC synthetic leather is Polyvinyl chloride artificial leather Abbreviation, also known as PVC leather , which is made by coating fabrics with PVC resin, plasticizers, stabilizers, and other additives, or by covering a layer of PVC film, followed by certain processing steps. The products are strong, low-cost, have good decorative effects, good waterproof performance, and high utilization rates, but most still cannot match the feel and elasticity of genuine leather ;

The longitudinal cross-section has air bubbles, fabric base or surface films, and synthetic fibers. It can be used for various bags, seat covers, linings, etc., and is often used in decoration for soft and hard bags. Besides making luggage and seats, PVC is also used artificial leather Return Suitable for home decoration, sliding doors, TV backgrounds, KTV renovation, wall upcycling, home leather, sofa leather, furniture leather, and more.

Material properties and characteristics

PVC artificial leather Traditional products are polyvinyl chloride artificial leather Later, new varieties such as polyolefin leather and nylon leather emerged. PVC artificial leather closely resembles natural leather in composition, structure, and appearance , several square meters can replace leather in any situation where leather is used, and are used to make various daily and industrial products.

（1） The leather surface has fine grain patterns, uniform and consistent color, with no delamination or cracking.

（2） The leather is full, soft, and elastic, with uniform thickness.

（3） The leather inside is clean, non-greasy, and foams evenly.

（4） It has certain strength, toughness, elasticity, wear resistance, and cold resistance.

（5） They offer excellent decorative effects, rich patterns and colors, are environmentally friendly and flame-retardant, lightweight, easy to process, and inexpensive.

（6） Poor breathability, hardening at low temperatures leads to poor flexibility, cracking, and poor slip resistance, resulting in a poor tactile feel.

Product processes and classification

During the manufacturing process of PVC artificial leather, plastic particles are first melted and stirred into a paste, then evenly coated at the specified thickness onto the T/C knitted fabric base, then placed in a foaming oven to achieve softness that can meet the production of various products and requirements, all while being released from the oven Surface treatment is carried out (dyeing, embossing, polishing, matting, surface fuzzing, etc., mainly according to specific product requirements).

PVC artificial leather can be divided into several categories based on substrate and structure, but generally by production method into the following types: Scraping PVC artificial leather Direct scraping method for PVC artificial leather , indirect scraping PVC artificial leather , also known as transfer PVC artificial leather (including the steel strip method and release paper method); Rolling PVC method artificial leather ; Extrusion PVC artificial leather ; Circular mesh coating method for PVC artificial leather.

In terms of use, it is also acceptable It is divided into several types such as shoes, bags, and decorative materials 。 For the same type of PVC artificial leather According to different classification methods, it can be classified into different categories, such as market cloth artificial leather , can be made into both ordinary scratched leather and foam leather.

Common parameters

Thickness: （0.5±0.05）mm 

Tear strength: Meridional ≥ 12N; Longitude ≥ 10N;

Peel strength (warp and weft directions): ≥ 12N

Color fastness to abrasion: ≥ Level 4

Cold resistance: -15°C, no cracks.

The above data are product parameters from some manufacturers in the market; prices vary among manufacturers and are for reference only

Key points for construction and installation

PVC artificial leather soft and hard wrapping process flow: base treatment→ segmentation and layout→ backboard fabrication→ fixing and installation→ fabric wrapping→ sponge filling (hard wrapping without sponge), → self-inspection and acceptance → finished product protection

(1) Base treatment After plastering dried, perform hollowing and flatness checks. The base keel is generally made of wood or light steel. The base board can use flame-retardant board or gypsum board base. It is recommended to use a light steel keel gypsum board base, which meets fire safety requirements and is not easily deformed.

(2) Segmented typesetting Layout and division according to design drawings and relationships with adjacent finishes, striving for transverse joints and uniform slab widths. Check the position of the electrical junction box and equipment in relation to the soft and hard wrapping sections, and choose a centered position.

(3) Backboard fabrication For soft packaging backsheets, multilayer boards and medium-density fiberboard (oil sealing) are generally selected, while hard packs are generally made of multilayer board, medium-density fiberboard (oil sealing), magnesium glass board, or centrifugal glass wool. If there are sockets or equipment on the soft pack, reserve a wooden board base layer on the backboard, with the board thickness matching the filling cotton thickness to prevent denting during installation.

(4) Sponge filling Soft-pack fillers include sponge, centrifugal cotton, and flame-retardant rubber-plastic cotton. The filling should be slightly 1~2mm higher than the grain lines on the solid wood to prevent the edges from being exposed. When filling, use universal adhesive to stick to the base plate to keep it flat and free of looseness.

(5) Fabric wrapping When arranging and cutting according to fabric texture, pay attention to the direction of adjustment. If you encounter irregular hard overlays, be mindful of fabric loss. Wrapping is fixed with a nail gun or universal glue, fixed according to the fabric’s flexibility and pattern direction.

(6) Fixed installation Fixing methods include nail polish, universal glue, silicone glue, and Velcro. For sliding doors and partition wood substrates, Velcro is recommended to be used. It does not damage the fabric, does not require a nail gun, and is easy to install and remove.