Leather materials for automotive interiors need to fulfil a number of performance requirements to ensure their durability and functionality in practical use. These requirements include:
Light resistance: leather materials should be able to resist prolonged exposure to sunlight without discolouration or degradation.
Resistance to heat and humidity: the leather must be able to withstand high temperatures and high humidity environments without damage.
Colour fastness to rubbing: the surface of the leather should not fade or lose its colour by rubbing in order to maintain a long-lasting appearance.
Friction breakage resistance: the leather needs to have good abrasion resistance to prevent it from being easily worn or torn in daily use.
Flame retardancy: As safety is of paramount importance in automotive interiors, leather materials must be flame retardant to minimise the risk of fire.
Tensile and Tear Strength: Leather should have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the tensile and tearing forces of normal use.
Stitching strength: the stitching part of the leather also needs to have good strength to ensure the stability of the overall structure.
Feel and comfort: the leather material should provide a soft, cosy touch to keep passengers comfortable during long rides.
Durability: the leather material should have a long service life, usually requiring a minimum of 6 years or more.
Easy to clean: leather material should be easy to daily cleaning and maintenance, in order to keep the interior environment of the car neat and clean.
I tillegg, with the improvement of environmental protection consciousness, the future development direction of automotive interior leather also includes the trend of de-skinning, environmental protection and multi-functionality. These requirements not only reflect the need for physical properties of the material, but also the concern for environmental protection and user experience.
