Artificial PVC leather (also call polyvinyl chloride artificial leather) is a synthetic leather primarily made by coating or laminating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin onto a fabric base (such as knitted or non-woven fabric). As one of the earliest synthetic leathers, it is widely used in bags, footwear, furniture, and automotive interiors due to its low cost and durability.
Structure of PVC Artificial Leather has three layers
The first layer is fabric base layer (Bottom Layer) and usually made of polyester, cotton, or non-woven fabric for strength and flexibility.
The second layer is PVC Foam Layer (Middle Layer, Optional), added for thickness and softness through a foaming process, but reduces breathability.
The last layer is PVC Coating (Top Layer), a mixture of PVC resin, plasticizers, and stabilizers, embossed to mimic genuine leather textures (e.g., pebbled, snakeskin).
The Characteristics of artificial PVC Leather are as below:
|
Feature |
Description |
|
Cost |
The cheapest synthetic leather, far more affordable than PU or genuine leather |
|
Durability |
Highly wear-resistant and tear-resistant, suitable for long-term use |
|
Water Resistance |
Fully waterproof and easy to clean |
|
Texture |
Stiff with a noticeable plastic feel |
|
Breathability |
Very poor, tends to trap heat |
|
Eco-Friendliness |
Contains plasticizers (e.g., phthalates), which may release harmful substances |
|
Cold Resistance |
Becomes stiff and prone to cracking in low temperatures |
Nowadays, Synthetic PVC Leather can be widely used for low-cost bags, footwear, furniture, automotive interiors and industrial uses such as Rain boots, work shoes, budget dress shoes Entry-level car seats, door panel covers because of extremely low cost, waterproof and stain-resistant and highly durable with a long lifespan. But synthetic PVC Leather also have some disadvantages, Poor breathability environmental concerns Hardens in cold weather.
How to Identify PVC Artificial Leather?
First, check the label, look for "PVC" or "polyvinyl chloride."
Second, feel the texture, stiff and rough, lacks elasticity when pressed.
Third, fold test, leaves white creases when folded and doesn't recover well.
Fourth, Burn test (caution advised), PVC burns with black smoke and a pungent chlorine smell but PU burns with minimal smoke and a faint sweet odor.
To summary, PVC artificial leather is a low-cost, waterproof, and durable synthetic leather, but suffers from poor breathability and environmental concerns. While still used in budget products, it is increasingly being replaced by PU and microfiber leather in higher-end applications. If you want to get more information for PVC Leather , pls view our website or contact us our sales team. Thank you!
