What is the difference between PU leather and PVC leather?
I What is PU leather？
PU leather, also known as synthetic leather, it's an imitation of the real leather created from polyurethane, a plastic with a similar feel and aspect to the leather, but without involving animals. 100% PU leather is an artificial material or artificial leather that does not involve animals. PU leather is considered Vegan leather.
The most common way to create PU leather is using a cover of plastic polyurethane or a polyurethane coating and apply it to a base made of fiber (generally polyester). The PU leather can be combined with real leather to make something called "double-cast" leather. The "double-cast" leather can use a base of divided real leather which later is covered by PVC or PU layer.
The PU leather generally has the same texture as the animal skin (real leather), but in most cases, it's lighter, and at the same time it is not as durable as real leather and tends to tear easily. It is also more resistant to sunlight, and this is why it is frequently used to cover car seats and faux leather furniture.
II What is PVC leather？
PVC leather, short for Polyvinyl Chloride, is the less expensive and more widely available alternative.
Vinyl, a flexible plastic resin, is chemically altered to create it. It is usually mixed with a variety of fillers to alter the texture, color, form, and effects to fit various leather goods.
This makes it ideal for usage in imitation leather furniture and fashion.
However, PVC manufacturing emits hazardous dioxins and employs extremely toxic chlorine, making it a very ecologically destructive material.
PVC is a synthetic polymer that needs toxic chemicals during manufacturing as well as a slew of unpleasant additives to function properly.
Furthermore, once discarded, the PVC object is not biodegradable and will stay in the environment for thousands of years.
Surely, you can ask your reliable sourcing company about PVC and whether it is a suitable material for you.
III The Differences between PU and PVC leather
1 Structure. As previously explained, PU leather and PVC leather differ in their structures. PVC has more layers underneath its coating, making it tougher and more durable. PU, on the other hand, has less layers, making it more pliable and flexible to work with. PU can even wrinkle and stain like natural leather would while PVC can stand more extreme wear and weather condition.
2 Breathability. Due to its foam layer underneath its surface coating and skin layer, PVC leather is much less breathable than PU. This gives PU leather the advantage when it comes to being the preferred material for wearable clothing items. However, since PU leather has more pores on its surface, this gives PU leather the risk of absorbing stains and other unwanted particles. This is why most upholstery uses PVC leather instead.
3 Durability. PVC’s multi-layer structure and lack of pores, as compared to PU leather, makes the material more durable than PU leather. This is why PVC leather is mostly used in upholstery and footwear. Utilising PVC leather could result in additional product lifetime as well.
IV How to compare PU leather and PVC leatehr?
Both PVC and PU leather is an example of faux leather.
Although they are both leather materials, they have particular characteristics that need to be differentiated.
1. Appearance and texture
In terms of manufacturing, PU is more complex than PVC.
Because PU base fabric is a high tensile strength canvas that is coated on top of the fabric foundation but also capable of covering the fabric base in the center, you cannot see the fabric base.
PU outperforms PVC in terms of torsion resistance, gentleness, tensile strength, and air permeability.
The PVC pattern is created by hot pressing a steel pattern roller.
Try this method on your own to identify the PU and half PU: The copper wire should be burned until it becomes crimson.
Then, place the copper wire on the leather and fire it again until the leather melts on the copper wire.
If the fire becomes green, it indicates the material is half PU or PVC; if the fire remains red, it means the material is PU.
2. Breathability
PVC leather is considerably less breathable than PU due to the foam layer beneath its surface covering and skin layer.
As a result, PU leather has the benefit of being the chosen material for wearable clothing items.
Although, PU leather is not as breathable as real leather.
It is, nevertheless, more breathable than other synthetic leathers, such as PVC.
While real leather tends to grow more beautiful and softer with time, PU leather will retain a consistent appearance and feel throughout its life.
Furthermore, PU leather is much less expensive than real leather.
However, since PU leather has larger holes on its surface, it is more prone to collecting stains and other undesirable particles.
As a result, most upholstery is made of PVC leather rather than real leather.
3. Structure And Durability
Polyurethane leather, often known as PU leather, is a kind of synthetic leather. It’s also referred to as biscuit leather or split leather. It is composed of thermoplastic and is utilized in the manufacture of shoes and furniture.
Because PU leather is a mixture of different synthetic substances, it is completely vegan. Biscuit leather is made of real leather that has been treated with a polyurethane coating on top.
Split leather is made from real leather scraps that have been polyurethane-coated. It has the same texture as genuine leather, but it is lighter, less resilient, and more sun resistant.
PVC leather, also known as Vinyl, is composed of a fabric leather backing, a foam layer, a skin layer, and plastic-based surface furniture covering.
The structures of PU leather and PVC leather vary. PVC has additional layers under its covering, making it more robust and durable.
PU, on the other hand, has fewer layers and is thus more malleable and flexible to work with.
PVC can withstand more severe wear and weather conditions than PU, which may wrinkle and discolor like genuine leather.
PVC leather is considerably less breathable than PU due to the foam layer underneath its surface coating and skin layer. As a result, PU leather has the benefit of being the chosen material for wearable apparel items.
However, as PU leather has larger holes on its surface, it is more prone to collecting stains and other undesirable particles. As a result, most upholstery is made of PVC leather rather than real leather.
When compared to PU leather, PVC’s multi-layer structure and absence of pores make the material more durable.
As a result, PVC leather is mostly utilized in upholstery and shoes. Using PVC leather may also result in longer product life.
4. Environmental Impact
PVC is the most harmful material to the environment. The PVC lifetime, which includes its manufacture, usage, and disposal, leads to the emission of hazardous, chlorine-based compounds.
Toxins accumulate in the water, air, and food chain.
PVC manufacturing is the biggest and fastest-growing use of chlorine, accounting for approximately 40% of total chlorine use in the United States.
Unlike PVC, PU does not emit hazardous chemicals or dioxins when used or disposed of, making it more environmentally friendly.
Most PU is still produced using solvents, but the landscape is shifting here as well, with more producers switching to water-based processes.
100% synthetic PU leather is a vegan polymer produced from petroleum. However, when it comes to application, PU may be combined with non-vegan materials.
PU has several beneficial properties. It has a velvety touch feel and features and structure comparable to animal leather. It is non-absorbent, scratch-resistant, and breathable.
5. Proper maintenance
How to clean PU leather?
Polyurethane (PU) leather is a kind of coating that is often used on furniture and handbags. It is very simple to clean and maintain:
a Wipe down the PU with a wet towel for general cleaning.
b To remove stains, apply some unscented soap into the spot and wipe it away with a wet towel.
c Wipe down with a dry towel to clean.
d To get the proper visualization, click on this video on how to clean PU leather.
How to clean PVC leather?
a For clean-up, use a wet towel.
b To remove stains, apply baking soda to a cloth and massage it into the PVC. Rinse thoroughly with a clean, moist towel.
c To assist keep the surface in good condition, use vinyl protection.
V Introduction for DERFLEX
DERFLEX is a professional manufacturer of . We have our own factory, which is located in Zhejiang province, China , with 7 production lines, the supply capacity is 300,000sqm/month. We can produce different kinds of wide format digital printing media. Such as coated Frontlit, backlit, laminated PVC tarpaulin, blockout,mesh,self-adhesive vinyl, one-way vision, perforate vinyl, wide format print cotton canvas, PVC coated tarpaulin, photo paper, reflective material, projection screen fabric.
Our main product is PVC tarpaulin and it is widely used as truck/trailer/container cover, tents, pallet cover,strip garden fence,
awnings, inflatable products, adumbral materials for building facility and house.
For further business communication, welcome to contact:
Tel: +8617316447897(whatsapp&wechat)
Email: ellaine@derflex.com
Web: www.derflex.com