The difference between artificial leather and leather on the market

The types of leather on the market are mainly divided into several types: cowhide, pigskin and artificial leather, and some international brands use suede.

The first type: pigskin, the strongest, but the pores are large, unsightly, and easy to identify

The second type: cowhide, the strength is second only to pigskin, and the surface is more delicate, but it is easier to damage

The third type: artificial leather, the surface is very delicate, can be flawless, and more durable, but has certain defects in terms of air permeability.

Let's talk about the specific points of distinction:

Real leather refers to natural leather, processed from animal skins. Artificial leather refers to synthetic leather or other leather-like products that are actually artificially synthesized from basic chemical raw materials. The structure of natural leather is very complicated, and it is extremely difficult or even impossible to make it artificially and seamlessly. Sometimes artificial leather will "make the fake and the real", but the method below will let you learn to distinguish it right away!

1. The shape of natural leather is irregular, and the thickness is also uneven. Its surface often has some natural defects in more or less, light or heavy. Its surface is smooth and meticulous. Generally, the sides and abdomen are loose and full of materials. The top leather has obvious pores and patterns, and the leather generally has piles. The synthetic leather has uniform thickness, smooth surface, no natural defects, uniform pores and patterns, and generally no lint in the leather.

2. For finished leather products, it is difficult to distinguish between genuine leather and artificial leather, especially the leather products with small area, compact structure and invisible inside. The way to distinguish such products is: first look at the appearance, uniform texture, no disability, There may be artificial leather without coarse grain or defects; and the texture of the leather has some differences, especially the difference between the main part and the secondary part of the leather product. Then carefully observe the distribution and shape of the pores; natural leather has many pores and is not suitable for bottoming, and is slightly inclined; while the pores with shallow and vertical pores may be modified by synthetic leather. In addition, from the cross-sectional view, the cross-sectional fibers of natural leather have their own characteristics, and the thickness of each layer of fiber varies. The fiber layers of synthetic leather are basically uniform, and the surface layer is plastic film-like.

3. Dripping test: Natural leather is obviously the one with strong water absorption, otherwise it may be artificial leather.

4. Tensile force and elasticity test: Natural leather has good elasticity and tensile force, otherwise it is artificial leather.

5. Blowing test: You can blow with saliva on the reverse side of the leather, and there will be leakage on the front. It is precisely because the leather has this "anti-reversal performance" that when you wear leather clothing, the cold-proof effect is very obvious, and it forms With good air permeability, this fully reflects the value of leather.

6. Visual identification method: Firstly, it should be distinguished from the leather pattern and pores. On the surface of natural leather, it can be seen that the patterns and pores do exist, and they are unevenly distributed. There are animal fibers on the reverse side, and the side section is clearly distinguishable. , There are animal fibers in the lower layer, and the leather fibers will rise up when you try to scratch with your fingernails. A small amount of fibers can also fall down. The fabric can be seen on the reverse side of the synthetic leather, and the side surface has no animal fibers. Generally, the epidermis has no pores. , But some have imitation leather artificial pores, there will be inconspicuous pores, some patterns are not obvious, or there are more regular artificial patterns, and the pores are quite consistent.

7. Hand feel identification method: Secondly, the leather feel is elastic. When the leather front is bent down by about 90 degrees, natural wrinkles will appear. Different parts of the leather will be bent separately. The thickness and size of the wrinkles produced are obviously uneven. It is believed that this is real leather, because real leather has a natural uneven fibrous structure, so the formation of wrinkles is also obviously uneven. On the other hand, synthetic leather feels like plastic, with poor recovery, and the thickness of the folds are similar to each other.

8. Smell identification method: Natural leather has a strong fur smell, even after treatment, the smell is more obvious, while the artificial leather product has the smell of plastic without the smell of fur.

9. Combustion identification method: mainly smelling the smell of burnt and looking at the status of ashes. When natural leather burns, it will emit a scorching smell. The burned ashes are generally fragile into powder, and artificial leather has a relatively high flame after burning. It shrinks rapidly, and has an unpleasant plastic smell. It becomes sticky after being heated, and becomes hard and lumpy after cooling.