What are the applications of synthetic suede fabric in automotive upholstery?
The application of synthetic suede fabrics in automotive interiors is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Replacement of genuine leather: Synthetic suede fabric, as a high-end synthetic leather, has gradually become a substitute for genuine leather due to its light texture, strong wear resistance, good breathability, easy cleaning and other characteristics. For example, the seats and interior cladding of the Azera ES6 model have been changed from leather to BASF Haptex synthetic leather, a material that can effectively reduce VOC content and odour in the car, improving interior air quality.
Environmentally friendly and sustainable: Synthetic suede fabrics, often made from environmentally friendly materials such as silicone, can be mass-produced in the automotive seating sector with a low environmental impact. For example, the world’s first sustainable silicone synthetic leather materials that can be used in mass production for vehicle seating and upholstery have already been successfully mass-produced in the automotive seating sector.
Durability and functionality: Synthetic suede fabrics offer good durability, ventilation, moisture permeability, antimicrobial properties and stretchability, properties that make them excellent for use in automotive interiors. For example, PU synthetic leather and PVC artificial leather perform well in automotive interior design applications with light resistance, moisture and heat resistance, colour fastness to friction, friction breakage resistance and flame retardancy.
Cost-effective: Synthetic suede fabrics do not require the use of animal leather in the production process, so the cost is lower and no environmental pollution. For example, microfibre leather not only exceeds the performance of genuine leather, but also can significantly reduce the cost and no environmental pollution, and has been widely used in 125 high-grade models such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Honda and Toyota.
In summary, the application of synthetic suede fabrics in automotive interiors is mainly reflected in its advantages of environmental protection, durability, functionality and cost-effectiveness as an alternative to genuine leather.
What are the design and aesthetic benefits of using synthetic suede fabric in automotive upholstery?
The use of synthetic suede fabrics in automotive interiors offers multiple design and aesthetic advantages:
Soft hand, clear and natural grain: Synthetic suede fabrics are soft to the touch, with a clear and natural grain, providing a leather-like feel and look.
Uniformity of colour and strength: Synthetic suede fabrics have a smooth surface, uniform thickness through the sheet, and uniformity of colour and strength, which makes them visually and tactilely appealing.
Aesthetically pleasing and easy to design: Synthetic suede fabrics can be manually designed in terms of surface colour and pattern, with a flat base and uniform material, making them easy to mechanise. This flexibility allows designers to personalise their designs according to specific needs.
Excellent environmental performance: modern synthetic suede fabrics, such as Haptex synthetic leather, not only look and feel close to natural leather, but also has a good breathable function, and environmental performance is also very commendable.
Inexpensive and easy to maintain: Compared to genuine leather, synthetic suede fabrics are cheaper and do not require animal resources, making them easy to maintain and clean.
Good flame retardancy and heat dissipation: synthetic suede fabrics have good flame retardancy and heat dissipation, which are very important safety features in car interiors.
To sum up, the application of synthetic suede fabrics in automotive interiors not only enhances the aesthetics and comfort of interiors, but also combines the advantages of environmental protection, economy and safety.
What are the sustainability and environmental benefits of using synthetic suede fabric in automotive upholstery?
The use of synthetic suede fabrics in automotive interiors has multiple sustainability and environmental benefits.
Synthetic suede fabrics are highly resistant to abrasion, perspiration, flammability, hydrolysis and water, which makes them far more durable than traditional natural leathers, thus reducing the frequency of replacement and resource consumption. In addition, the materials used in the production of synthetic suede fabrics, such as polyurethane resin (PU) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), are more environmentally friendly than traditional PVC materials because they have a lower environmental load.
The production process of synthetic suede fabrics is more environmentally friendly. For example, silicone synthetic leathers are not only weather and light resistant, easy to clean and odourless, but also have strong colour fastness and are free from petroleum-based components and carbon-based products, which further reduces the impact on the environment. In addition, the use of synthetic leather made from recycled leather fibres reduces landfill waste and CO2 emissions.
Thirdly, the use of synthetic suede fabrics helps to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can affect the quality of air in the car and therefore the health of the driver and passengers. Therefore, the use of this material improves interior air quality and complies with national regulations and guidelines on interior air quality.
The use of synthetic suede fabrics in car interiors also reduces the need for valuable cowhide resources, thereby reducing the problem of greenhouse gases released from cowhide rot. This not only helps to conserve natural resources but also reduces environmental pollution.
The use of synthetic suede fabrics in automotive interiors has significant sustainability and environmental benefits, including longer service life, reduced resource consumption, reduced environmental pollution and improved interior air quality.
