What's the difference between PU leather and real leather

There are different kinds of products referred to as “leather,” but do you know the difference between PU leather (polyurethane leather) and real leather? Polyurethane leather is a leather-like polymer substance made out of polyurethane, a type of plastic. Meanwhile, real leather comes from the hide of animals.

1.What is PU Leather?

a.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.

b.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.

c.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.

2.What is Genuine or Real Leather?

a.Real leather is crafted from animal skin, which in our case is cowhide, and must be tanned to avoid decomposition and become usable leather.

b.It can last a long time and generally gains a nice texture as it ages. If given proper care, an accessory made of this material can last between 10 and 20 years. Genuine leather is difficult to tear or puncture and is also much more breathable and humidity-resistant than most artificial leathers, which can begin to crack and warp in just a few years. And also, unlike synthetic leather, some genuine leathers have hypoallergenic features, which means they repel certain allergens.

c.The maintenance of leather is a little more complicated than that of PU leather. You can clean leather with soap or water over using a damp cloth, but if it gets stained with oil or sweat you will need a special leather cleaner. Genuine leather may need a leather conditioner applied from time to time to keep it supple, or it will become stiff or brittle. This is because the natural oils in leather dry out over time.

3.Pros & Cons of PU Leather

When it comes to purchasing a leather product, there are a lot of considerations to make. The most basic question of course is what type of leather do you want? There is of course genuine leather, but there are also synthetic materials like pleather that are made to look like leather; and there is PU leather, which is not technically leather at all.

4.PU Leather Pros:

a. It is waterproof

b. Can be dry cleaned

c. Soft and supple

d. Lighter than Real Leather

e. Does not crack or fade under sunlight

f. It is environmental-friendly

Derflex is one of the leading of PU leather manufacturers in China with a history of 20 years. For more information please contact me:

Email: serena@derflex.com
Tele: +86 130 1285 4064 (WhatsApp and WeChat)

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