Synthetic leather was once thought to be unsuitable for high-quality shoes, but microfiber leather changed the way shoes are manufactured. Microfiber leather is designed to withstand bad weather and the wear and tear of long walks and runs. They can hold their shape very well and are usually very durable if properly cared for. It also has better water resistance and is lighter than real leather, making it ideal for long wear and outdoor activities. The full name of the microfiber is super smooth PU leather. In general, microfiber consists of a layer of high-performance PU (polyurethane resin) and a layer of apparel fabric made form superfine fibers. Its texture is similar to real leather and belongs to 3rd generation artificial leather. It has excellent properties.
Production process
So, first of all, the manufacturer needs to mix the raw material PVC and pigments, etc. to make the material into a good solid shape. The manufacturer then covers the fabric with the mixed material, and according to this process, the manufacturer of the semi-finished product calls it the base material. Therefore, the base material contains two layers: a surface PVC layer and a fabric liner. The base material is then sent to the foaming machine, which is a stretched high-temperature production line where the mixed material will foam, so the PVC is thicker and the PVC layer is twice as thick as the mechanical PVC. After foaming, the material is embossed. Here, the manufacturer uses the roller to emboss the pattern on the roller. This can be thought of as a mold where the roller structure is transferred onto the surface of the PVC layer. Then the manufacturer can have different textures.
The manufacturer then performs surface treatments such as color adjustment and surface design printing. Hence, under the same conditions, microfiber is much lighter than real leather. For example, it is possible to distinguish two bags of the same size and shape by the weight they are holding in the hand. Genuine leather bags are much heavier than microfiber bags.
Microfiber leather is the result of technologically advanced manufacturing techniques that combine microfiber and PU to create sustainable alternatives to leather. Microfiber has a 30% less environmental impact than animal skin in the use of water and global warming. Microfibers are not only environmentally friendly but also have some great properties that are not found in animal skin. In general, genuine leather is more expensive than microfiber, and its price depends on supply and demand. However, some of the best microfibers have the best technology and are therefore more expensive than real leather. It is also used in high-end applications. The physical properties of microfiber leather outperform real leather, such as its abrasion resistance, hydrolysis resistance, and the ability to breathe. The environmental impact of livestock on factory farms contributes significantly to pollution and pollution. To produce animal skins, animal farms require an astounding amount of resources to adapt and feed animals.