Seven common types of leather
1. Pure aniline leather
Don't pigment and use aniline effect of dye modification of leather, and only the best leather in the world can be classified into this type. People who like natural products especially be fond of this kind of leather. 5% of production in the world belongs to the type, only some A grade leather meet this kind of standard. This kind of leather is not been pigment, but may thin coating a layer of wax or lightly coat a layer of oil to improve the hand-feeling and beauty. With machine to mill or burnish is usually the last finishing process of this leather.
2. Full aniline leather
Like pure aniline leather, only some of the best leather in the world can be classified into this type. The only difference between pure aniline and full aniline leather is the raw materials. The latter is in a little low level and the surface is only a thin layer of protective layer, which are usually wax and transparent paint on the surface.
3. Half aniline leather
The leather needs more work.The surface has a little pigment, Pigment gently in the surface of leather to make color uniform and hide some original defects. This kind of leather has good ability of light resistance and prevent cross and easy to clean. 10-15%of the output of the world belong to this kind of leather. Most B grade leather meet the standard of this type. It is interesting to know that aniline, half aniline and pure aniline leather are not full grain leather.The suede leather is a kind of typical comprehensive buffed aniline leather. Many color leather begin with gently sand cleaning and article surface flating.
4. Shave leather
Buff the surface of grain to reduce the influence of grain defects and then make a false grain to imitate all full grain leather with different finishing methods. 18% of leather in the world leather output belongs to this type.This kind of leather needs more processing, such as: grinding, buffing, embossing, pigment to hide the original defects, insect bites, barbed wire bruises, Angle injury etc ,which can be removed by grinding before pigment. Top layer leather is the leather outside with grain,which is about 0.9 to 1.5 mm thick. C grade leather meet this kind of standard.Obviously this leather needs buffing, because despite using artificial to make false grain replace the original surface, there is no other use. The other 65% of the world's leather output is not suitable for furniture, but only can be used for shoes, garments, belts, handbags and car cushion.
5. Full grain leather
The texture of grain should be complete.It has natural pores and clear texture.
As the texture of wood, wood and blackspot should show its natural color of belonging tree species, leather should also show the characteristics of the belonging animal. The better the leather, the less the modification.The original grain of cheaper leather is buffed ,painted and embossed with false grain instead,.So they are not so soft like full grain leather. Covered by a layer of paint, the original texture change is still visible.
6. Half grain leather
Buff the part of grain in the leather,but the part of no-buffing grain in the whole leather should be kept. It is still visible to see the natural pores and texture of leather. Since the using of the word 'Top' in English, this term in the leather industry is the most confusing. It is said that 'Top ' stands for the best.But it is not this meaning here.Using 'Top'here because the top can be ground, pigment and printed. Basically, half grain leather is not split leather.
7. Split leather
Cut into several layers,and the leather with grain called the top layer leather, the following are the second layer leather, third layer leather. Leather with flesh layer is called split leather. By using modern technology, it is possible to make suitable for furniture split leather finishing , pigment and embossing. Of course split leather are not durable like top layer leather, but we can get interesting results if adusting their thickness. The most challenging is to make them have fracture resistance.flexural property. Unless special notice, general finishing of split leather can not be used as cushions.