How to distinguish natural skin from artificial

Modern technologies make it possible to achieve such a level of skill in light industry that it is almost impossible to distinguish things from artificial leather from natural materials. However, the quality of synthetic materials is still significantly different from the original, not to mention the price. Having bought boots from an imitation leather, you should not be surprised if they do not live to the end of a season. The same applies to bags, straps, jackets, etc. Unscrupulous sellers, having on hand high-quality products made of artificial leather, often give them for natural, thereby increasing the cost several times. To avoid misunderstandings, disappointments and unnecessary purchases, you should learn to distinguish between genuine leather and fake, as well as know the external signs of different types of skin.

Genuine leather: appearance and varieties of dressing

Genuine leather is the material obtained by processing the skins of animals - sheep, goats, cows, pigs. It is valued in the light industry for its high technological characteristics: environmental friendliness, softness, elasticity, ability to keep shape, attractive appearance and unique aroma. To determine the appearance of the skin, you can use measures, traces of hair follicles on the skin surface, forming a special intricate pattern. It remains after hair removal in place of hair bags. The porous surface of natural leather is caused by the interweaving of collagen fibers, a natural protein that forms the basis of the skin. Intertwined with each other, the fibers form bundles and voids, causing uneven skin relief. Depending on the age of the beast and on the way of dressing, the skin has different thickness, elasticity and other characteristics. One of the differences between genuine leather and artificial leather is tanning - the transformation of ordinary skin into leather. The following types of tanning are available:

1. Chrome tanning is carried out using various chromium compounds. The skin is very strong, breathable, elastic.Among the disadvantages are excessive hygroscopicity, moisture permeability, inability to keep shape and embossing. Chrome-plated leather has a gray tint.
2. Aluminum tanning applies only to kid leather, i.e. skin of a young sheep or goat. The skin is incredibly soft, delicate and thin. Gloves are mainly made from it. For the production of shoes, it is not suitable, because it absorbs water, losing tannins, and when dry it becomes coarse and becomes cracked.
3. Fat tanning with fats of sea animals (seals, whales, fur seals) or fish is used to produce suede - very durable, waterproof leather with a fleecy surface. Suede has a natural yellow or beige shade. It stretches well and does not absorb water.
4. Combined tanning combines the use of mineral and artificial tanning agents, as a result of which the cost of the product is reduced. With this type of dressing, it turns out raw materials for the manufacture of straps, wallets, wallets, purses and so on.
5. Chromocyrconium and chromium titanium zirconia tanning is the use of titanium and zirconium tanning agents to obtain thin light skin withhigh performance. However, the final product is not only beautiful, but also expensive.

Artificial leather: the appearance and types of dressing

Artificial leather is obtained from composite polymeric materials, has a fibrous base or does without it. The main difference from the natural counterpart is the absence of a porous structure. Depending on the polymer used, artificial leather is of the following types:

• based on polyurethane
• polyvinyl chloride based
• based on polyacetate
• based on nitrocellulose
• based on thermoplastic elastomers
• rubber based

Artificial leather in some way surpasses natural material. It is produced not in jagged pieces, but in rolls of regular geometric shape without flaws, therefore, it is easier to work with synthetic materials. Due to various additives, leatherette wear-resistant, does not absorb moisture, resistant to temperature extremes. Nevertheless, the unnatural material is significantly inferior in price to the natural counterpart, so it is worthwhile to master the skills of discrimination in order not to acquire even a qualitative, substitute.

What are the ways to distinguish genuine leather from artificial?

There are many ways to determine the authenticity of the skin. These include the following:

1. The labels on the labels will help in determining the origin of the material: Genuine Leather in English, Echtes Leder in German, Cuir in French means "genuine leather."
2. The folded edges of the product will also indicate the naturalness of the material: the seam or hem in natural leather will be thick and convex, in artificial material it is usually soldered into the thing.
3. Scrutinize the pores on the surface of the skin. In natural raw materials, they are arranged in a chaotic manner, and in artificial ones - at the same distance from each other.
4. Swipe your fingers across the surface of the product. Natural material always seems rougher and tougher, and artificial leather is softer and smoother.
5. Put pressure on the toe of the shoe: if wrinkles appear on it for a while, but they quickly disappeared and the surface became absolutely smooth, in front of you are boots made of genuine leather. If the dent retains its shape, and the place of pressing is covered with small cracks, this indicates the unnatural origin of the material.In principle, such shoes can be attributed to the season, but after a few weeks of wearing she will have a very battered look. Artificial leather can not withstand stress, with it quickly peels off the paint, it fades and cracks.
6. You can check the product with the warmth of your hands. Touch the bag (wallet, gloves, boots) with your palm and hold it for a few seconds. The natural material will heat up, and there will be no perspiration on it. Artificial leather will begin to give a cool, and along the contour of the palm will become noticeably wet spot.
7. Kozham has a special "chemical" smell, and natural leather exudes a rather pleasant natural aroma of the treated material.
8. Recognize the original from the substitute will help cut the skin. In natural raw materials, it has no layers, and the synthetic material will have a visible base, layer and top layer.
9. Genuine leather does not absorb water. Put water on the product: if a drop has slipped from the surface, you have 100% leather in front of you, and if water is absorbed, the probability of artificial raw materials is high.

To be sure of the origin of the skin, rely on time-tested methods: look carefully at the seams, look at the skin pattern,feel its structure with your fingers. Natural shoes are much more reliable artificial, and kid gloves will not be demolished for decades. Make no mistake with the purchase, following the advice on checking the origin of raw materials.

Video: how to distinguish natural leather from leatherette