Categories of Leather

by Super User


Types of Leather
Do you know what type you are buying?

CATEGORIES OF LEATHER

Corrected Grain Pigmented Leather



Characteristics of Corrected Grain Leather :

* Uses the top layer of the hide. 
* Dyed through. 
* Buffed and top coated with pigment and polyurethane. 
* Embossed (pattern pressed) to hide most imperfections as best possible.


Advantages of Corrected Grain Leather :

* Most used of all upholstery leathers. 
* Uniform in appearance and colour. 
* Resistant to wear and recommended for high usage
* Resistant to fading and colour loss. 
* Resistant to water. 
* Softens with age.

Semi-Aniline Leather


Characteristics of Semi-Aniline Leather :

* Uses the top layer of the hide. 
* Dyed through. 
* Lightly tinted. 
* Top coated with a thin polyurethane coating. 
* Requires selection of better quality hides with less imperfections.


Advantages of Semi-Aniline Leather :

* More supple than corrected grain leather. 
* A more natural appearance and feel. 
* Only very lightly embossed allowing natural markings to be more evident. 
* More serviceable than full aniline due to the added protective top layer.

Bycast Leather


 

Gaining popularity in recent years, Bycast Leather is desired for its unique shine and easy care. It is a combination of natural leather hides processed and bonded to a man-made surface covering and then coated with a thick layer of polyurethane.  In addition to the highly desirable “shiny” look, the coating helps prevent scratching, gives it a higher resistance to sunlight fading and is an excellent dirt-repelling surface.

Bycast can be a top grain or split hide but in either case it is ironed very smooth to remove most of the natural graining. To clean, simply use a damp towel.  Heat from a hairdryer can be used to remove light scratches.

Characteristics of Bycast Leather :

* Uses the bottom split layer of the hide. 
* Is produced by first melting glue into the top surface and rolling on a very thick layer of polyurethane 
* Dyed through. 
* Dark colours are the best alternative.


Advantages of Bycast Leather :

* Tough. 
* Thick. 
* Suits modern decorating trends. 
* Require minimal maintenance. 
* Virtually impenetrable to water.