This was published over 8 years ago but is still very relevant
BONDED LEATHER
We get a lot of inquiries about Bonded Leather and what exactly it is. Love it or hate it it is out there on furniture and we have to be able to deal with the problems it creates
Bonded Leather is a man made product and comes in good and bad qualities just like leather.
It is created by taking the shavings of leather that are removed during the splitting and shaving process and grinding them into a very fine powder.
This is then 'bonded' to a backing mesh and used as a base for the top coatings. A layer of fabric mesh is then applied and finally a top layer of vinyl or polyurethane is bonded to the top surface.
This is often imprinted with a grain pattern to imitate leather or can be made to appear like a two tone leather by using a two colour coating.
A cross section of Bonded Leather (see attached photo) will shoe the distinctive white layer of fibres in the middle layer of the 'sandwich'
Some 'bonded' leather is quite hard wearing but those with an imprinted grain pattern can be a problem as the surface flakes away. Stickiness and delamination can also be a problem as experienced with some Bicast or Laminated leathers.
The surface of Bonded Leather should be looked after regularly and a good maintenance cleaner will keep it free from body oils and dirt which will over time do the most damage.
Bonded Leather cannot be sold as Leather in the UK it must be designated Bonded or Laminated Leather. Describing it as containing a %age of leather is also incorrect as in British Standard once leather has been ground or disintegrated it can no longer be called leather
BONDED LEATHER
We get a lot of inquiries about Bonded Leather and what exactly it is. Love it or hate it it is out there on furniture and we have to be able to deal with the problems it creates
Bonded Leather is a man made product and comes in good and bad qualities just like leather.
It is created by taking the shavings of leather that are removed during the splitting and shaving process and grinding them into a very fine powder.
This is then 'bonded' to a backing mesh and used as a base for the top coatings. A layer of fabric mesh is then applied and finally a top layer of vinyl or polyurethane is bonded to the top surface.
This is often imprinted with a grain pattern to imitate leather or can be made to appear like a two tone leather by using a two colour coating.
A cross section of Bonded Leather (see attached photo) will shoe the distinctive white layer of fibres in the middle layer of the 'sandwich'
Some 'bonded' leather is quite hard wearing but those with an imprinted grain pattern can be a problem as the surface flakes away. Stickiness and delamination can also be a problem as experienced with some Bicast or Laminated leathers.
The surface of Bonded Leather should be looked after regularly and a good maintenance cleaner will keep it free from body oils and dirt which will over time do the most damage.
Bonded Leather cannot be sold as Leather in the UK it must be designated Bonded or Laminated Leather. Describing it as containing a %age of leather is also incorrect as in British Standard once leather has been ground or disintegrated it can no longer be called leather
