Leatherette and vinyl fabric are two upholstery materials widely used in various industries, such as furniture, decoration, transportation, marine, etc. Though they have many similiar places, they are not the same thing. Today, let us tell you the key difference between these two popular materials. Hopefully, this article can help you select the right material when buying the related products.
What is Leatherette?
Leatherette is a material known as leatherette fabric, synthetic leather, vegan leather, PU leather and faux leather. Generally, leatherette can be divided into two main categories – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and PU (Polyurethane). It is an ideal substitute to genuine leather in clothing, car seats, upholstery and many other industries.
Leatherette has many advantages, such as water resistance, great durability,mildew resistance and comes in various colors and patterns. In particular, leatherette has a non-porous structure, so the spill won’t penetrate inside the material. This makes leatherette very easy-cleaning and easy-maintenance, as it does not require any complex cleaning or maintenance treatment like waxing but the regular wipe-off.
What is Vinyl Fabric?
Vinyl fabric is a plastic material made up of resin and plastic, commonly known for its good characteristics such as strength, flexibility, and durability and heat resistance. It is made from two main materials, ethylene and chlorine. There are several types of vinyl fabric including clear vinyl, flannel-backed vinyl and other vinyl-coated fabrics. According to its characteristics, vinyl fabrics are used to make raincoats, tablecloths and so on.
Differences between Leatherette and Vinyl Fabric
Manufacture:
Leatherette is made with a fabric or plastic base, and then through a series of processes like dying, waxing, and adding polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride to form the color and texture.
Vinyl is simply made from salt and oil. The process is called cracking. First, ethylene will be produced from petroleum oil through high temperature and pressure. Then, chlorine is made from salt. It is progress that is called electrolytic disassociation. These two processes can make enough elements which are needed to produce vinyl. Finally, mix the vinyl resin with a few products, which makes the vinyl differ in its actual consistency.
Appearance:
Leatherette fabric looks the same as genuine leather. It has a natural grain and feeling. It’s an ideal substitute for genuine leather in many industries especially in clothing and shoe-making. Besides, leatherette has many patterns and textures to choose, which can meet personalized and customized demands.
Like leatherette, vinyl also has various colors and textures. Today’s vinyl has been updated a lot and it has more color and texture options than before, which makes it look like natural stone and hardwood. However, some inferior vinyl has a plastic-like feel, which makes it look cheap and artificial.
Cleaning& Maintenance:
It is very easy to maintain leatherette because it is water-resistant, abrasion-resistant and durable. Leatherette has a non-porous structure so the stains and spills that cannot penetrate into its surface can be easily wiped off. For example, for most people to clean leatherette sofas, using a clean cloth with water to wipe them is enough. If necessary, leatherette can also be cleaned with leather cleaning agents which is also easy to buy in supermarkets. Proper maintenance weekly can prolong the durability of products made from leatherette fabric. However, compared to leatherette, it is a bit difficult to clean vinyl fabric, especially when some markable stains drop on the surface. In this case, it is better to ask the professional for the proper help and solution.
Cost:
In general, vinyl fabric is cheaper than leatherette. Leatherette has a different price according to its raw material quality and additions. Some of the leatherette can be even much cheaper than vinyl.
Durability:
Some vinyl can look very similar to leatherette, but they have huge difference in quality and durability. Generally, leatherette is more durable than vinyl if properly maintained. Even over a long time, the leatherette can still look fresh and feel soft. What’s more, leatherette can resist scrapes, scratches, and wear during the daily use.
Vinyl owns very great insulating performance and can resist the chemical elements like bases, acids, and alcoholsHowever, vinyl is not like leatherette and it is prone to the problem of cracking and fading.
Repair:
Even when exposed to sunlight, vinyl fabrics do not fade or crack as quickly as the leatherette. It also resists scrapes and scratches. The repair of vinyl is based on its hot melting characteristic. And you can choose a special binder to repair it. If not properly maintained, the color of leatherette will change and fade over time. If in that situation, it’s hard to match the colors when it comes to repair. So, take care of your faux leather with patience. Proper maintenance can avoid serious repairs and keep its natural looking.
Conclusion
Leatherette and vinyl fabric are both widely used in our daily life, such as clothes and upholster. They have different characteristics and can apply to many different industries.However, faux leather is more acceptable for you because of the better feeling and higher cost-effectiveness.
Our company has professional manufacturing workshops and full categories of leatherette fabric. If you have any demands and questions about leatherette and our products, please contact us at anna@caiwing.cn!
