What is silicone vegan leather

Silicon vegan leather is a new type of environmentally friendly leather, using silica gel as raw material, by combining with microfiber, non-woven fabric and other substrates, using solvo-free processing and preparation. It has a similar look and feel to natural leather, but is more durable, waterproof, stain resistant and easy to clean.

How to make silicone vegan leather

‌Raw material preparation

Choose a suitable substrate, such as polyester fiber, polyurethane foam or artificial leather, which should have good softness and breathability. Choose silicone materials, such as polydimethylsiloxane, polymethyl siloxane, etc., these materials have excellent heat, cold and aging resistance.

‌mix and stir

The silicone resin and solvent are mixed to form a uniform solution. This step requires strict control of the mixing ratio and stirring time to ensure the stability and uniformity of the solution.

preparation technology

‌solution blended process: The mixed silicone solution is coated on the substrate, which is dried and cured to form silicone leather.

sol-gel method: The silicone sol is coated on the substrate to form a uniform film, and then the sol gel is made by heat treatment or chemical reaction, and finally the silicone leather is formed.

‌immersion method: The substrate is immersed in silicone solution, so that the substrate fully absorbs the silicone material, and then after drying and curing treatment, the silicone leather is obtained.

‌subsequent processing

curing reaction: Ensure that the silicone material is fully cured on the substrate to improve the stability and durability of the leather.

surface treatment: The leather surface is treated as necessary, such as grinding, coloring, etc., to meet the needs of different applications.

Finish and finish cutting: The leather is finished and cut to the desired shape and size.

‌Environmental protection characteristics

Silicone vegan leather are not used in the production process of silicone leather, which makes the release of VOC (volatile organic compounds) far less than the national mandatory standard, and has a high green value. It should be noted that the specific process and formula for making silicone vegan leather may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. In the actual production process, the appropriate process and formula should be selected according to the specific needs and condition.

What is the appearance and texture of silicone vegan leather

The appearance of silicon vegan leather is similar to that of real leather, with clear lines, soft and comfortable texture and good resilience. Silicone vegan leather is a new type of environmental protection material, and its appearance is very close to that of real leather. Its surface texture is clear, although it is slightly more regular than real leather, but the overall visual effect is very realistic, without the natural changes and flaws of real leather, giving people a delicate and regular aesthetic feeling ‌.

In terms of texture, silicone vegan leather also performs well. Its touch is soft and comfortable, good resilience, when the finger is pressed down, there will be small wrinkles on the surface, and when the finger is lifted, the wrinkles will disappear immediately, this delicate touch makes people feel warm and plump. In addition, silicone vegan leather also has good wear resistance, water resistance, stain resistance and easy cleaning characteristics, making it more durable and convenient in daily use.

What are the characteristics of silicone vegan leather

The characteristics of silicon vegan leather mainly include the following points:

1. Soft, comfortable and durable‌: Siliconevegan leather soft texture, feel comfortable, at the same time hard and wear-resistant surface, not easy to damage, long service life ‌.
2. High temperature resistance and good wrinkle resistance: Silicone vegan leather can resist high temperature, does not deform, and is not easy to wrinkle, and recovers quickly after use ‌.
3. ‌environmental and non-poisonous: In the production process, silicone vegan leather does not add harmful substances, to ensure that the product is non-toxic and harmless, in line with modern people’s high requirements for environmental protection and health ‌.
4. ‌Strong resistance to hydrolysis and weather: Silicone vegan leather has good hydrolysis resistance and can maintain stable performance in wet environment. At the same time, it can resist the influence of ultraviolet light, oxidation and other factors, and maintain the stability of performance and appearance ‌ for a long time.
5. ‌Anti-fouling and easy to clean: Silicone vegan leather has low surface tension, is not easy to absorb stains, and is easy to clean and maintain, daily stains can be removed by gently wiping with paper towels ‌.
6. ‌Good flame retardant and air permeability: Silicone vegan leather has excellent flame retardant properties, which can prevent the spread of flame to a certain extent. At the same time, it has good air permeability and helps to improve air quality ‌.
7. ‌Rich in colors and patterns: Silicone vegan leather can meet the individual needs of different consumers, adding beauty to home or car interior ‌.

Learn More: Silicone Leather Guide

Which areas need to apply silicone vegan leather

Home decoration field

Furniture surface material: Such as sofas, seats, bed soft bags, etc., the soft touch and good permeability of silicone vegan leather can provide a comfortable sitting and sleeping experience, while its wear resistance, scratch resistance, waterproof and anti-fouling characteristics also ensure the beauty and durability of the furniture.

Home accessories: Such as curtains, throw pillows, etc., silicone vegan leather is rich in color and diverse in pattern, which can meet the decorative needs of different home styles.

‌Automotive interior

Seat and steering wheel covers: The softness and breathability of silicone vegan leather enhance driving comfort, while its wear, aging and flame retardant properties ensure long-term safety during use.

Trim panel: The use of silicone vegan leather can enhance the overall texture of the car, while preventing UV damage to the interior and maintaining good performance.

‌Shoes, clothing and bags

Shoe making: For the upper, insole and other parts, the permeability of silicone vegan leather can keep the feet dry, reduce odor, while wearing and durable.

Clothes and bags: Silicone vegan leather is popular for its lightweight, durable and waterproof properties, and is suitable for making all kinds of clothing and bags.

‌medical field

Silicone vegan leather is mildew resistant, anti-bacterial, wear and stain resistant, and can be cleaned with any chemical cleaner, is the first choice for medical beds, seats, ward interiors and other medical equipment artificial leather fabric.

sports field

sports equipment: Silicone vegan leather can be used to make sports shoes, sportswear, sports equipment, etc., and is widely favored for its comfort, breathability and wear resistance.

Sports venues and facilities: Silicone vegan leather can also be used to make the surface of sports venues and facilities, such as running tracks, stands, etc., to ensure the safety and comfort of sports venues.

 In addition, silicone vegan leather is also widely used in yachts, flexible packaging, public outdoor and other fields, because of its salt spray resistance, anti-fouling, weather resistance, hydrolysis resistance, UV resistance and other properties.

What are the advantages of organic silicon vegan leather compared with other materials

‌Excellent environmental performance

Raw material environmental protection：The main raw materials of silicon vegan leather are silicon-based materials such as silicon ore, which are widely sourced and renewable, and are more environmentally sustainable than traditional natural leather production, which involves animal breeding.

Production process environmental protection：There is no need to use a large number of chemical solvents and additives in the production process of silicon vegan leather, no irritating odor volatilization, and no pollutants such as waste water containing heavy metals, effectively reducing the pollution to the environment.

Strong recyclability：Silicone vegan leather at the end of its service life, its materials can be recycled, further reducing the impact on the environment, in line with the current concept of green development.

‌Excellent health performance

No harmful substances are released：Silicone vegan leather does not contain harmful substances, such as phthalates, formaldehyde, no odor, harmless to the human body, even sensitive skin people can be safe to use.

Good antibacterial property：Silicone vegan leather has certain antibacterial properties, which can inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold, reduce the odor and health problems caused by microbial breeding, and provide users with a more healthy and hygienic use environment.

‌Outstanding durability 

Strong wear resistance：Silicone vegan leather has excellent wear resistance, after a long time of use and friction, it is not easy to wear, peeling, chips and other problems, can maintain the integrity and beauty of the surface, and greatly extend the service life of the product.

Resistant to hydrolysis and aging：Silicone vegan leather can also maintain stable performance in harsh environments, such as hydrolysis resistance, aging resistance, so that it can perform well in a variety of application scenarios.

Other advantages：good hand feel, silicone vegan leather using polymer silicone, to achieve realistic leather flesh, skin friendly, elastic, soft and delicate touch.

Good stain resistance: The surface of silicon vegan leather has low surface tension and surface energy, so that the finished product has better stain resistance and is easy to clean.

wide application：Due to the many advantages of silicon vegan leather, it has been widely used in automotive interior, furniture decoration, children’s products and other fields.

What drives the development of silicone vegan leather

The main factors driving the development of silicone vegan leather include the popularity of environmental protection concepts, technological advances and shifts in consumer demand. The popularity of the concept of environmental protection is an important factor in promoting the development of silicone vegan leather. With the enhancement of global awareness of environmental protection, the environmental pollution that may occur in the process of traditional leather production is increasingly concerned. Silicon vegan leather as an environmentally friendly material, its production process has less impact on the environment, in line with modern people’s pursuit of sustainable development. This feature has made silicone vegan leather widely recognized in the market and promoted its rapid development.

Technological advances have also provided strong support for the development of silicone vegan leather. By continuously improving the synthesis process, scientists have improved the performance of silicone vegan leather and reduced the production cost, so that it gradually has the conditions for commercialization. These technological advances have significantly improved the quality, durability and appearance of silicone vegan leather, further enhancing its competitiveness in the market.

The shift in consumer demand is also an important factor in promoting the development of silicone vegan leather. As consumers become more concerned about health, environmental protection and sustainability, they are more willing to choose products that conform to these ideals. Silicone vegan leather, as an environmentally friendly, safe and durable material, just meets these needs of consumers, so it has been widely welcomed in the market.

Conclusion

Silicone vegan leather with its environmental protection, durable, easy to clean and safe characteristics, become an ideal substitute for traditional leather, is a new environmentally friendly leather material with broad application prospects, its unique performance and environmental protection characteristics make it show great potential in many fields.

The silicone leather provides an innovative, durable, and sustainable coated fabric option for Marine, Furniture, Automotive, Healthcare, Sports, 3C Electronics, Handbags, Baby products, upholstery etc.

Z.S.R work with the different industry product fabric selection designers, product developer, R&D engineer, product manager, Material Specialists, Fabric Specialist, Material Consultant together to customized the silicone leather according to the needs of customers, with fabric layer base, textures, thicknesses and colors to fit their project needs and ensure their project success. Our engineers provide sample analysis, which can quickly match customer needs and 100% match sample to meet the customized of different customers’ request.

Contact Z.S.R silicone to get your own needed silicone leather to ensure your project success!