Joined: 23 Nov 2019 Posts: 61. This won’t save you from making a bad choice before buying, but it will tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt whether your particular piece of real or artificial. We love feedback :-) and want your input on how to make Science Trends even better. PU Leather or Poly Synthetic Leather: PU Leather, when contrasted with Real calfskin, is fundamentally the same as regarding look and believe. Be on the lookout for anything called bi-cast leather, reconstituted leather, bonded leather, corrected grain leather, or split leather in addition to any other names that might give the impression that its leather that’s been altered in some way. That’s a very good question, the answer to which you should definitely know if you’re ever in the position to shop for leather goods. PU leather, on the other hand, will simply fall apart as the plastic is bent and teased, often chipping or flaking away progressively as more stress is applied. Trust. Real Leather. A typical side to side comparison makes it quite obvious. PU Leather vs Real Leather: Which one is better? Cons of PU Leather: Absence of breathability. It might look very similiar but by feeling it or taking a closer look you can tell the difference. The use of the words 'Genuine Leather' listed as feature, is another dead giveaway. PU leather is cheaper. JooJoobs is always open to partnering with bloggers, so send us an email, let's talk! It is very similar to bonded leather in look and feel and both feel like the real thing. Usually real leather, especially when older, feels slightly softer and smoother compared to pu leather. Nowadays with the development of technology, nature leather can … PU leather is not as durable as genuine leather and is made from plastic. While the fact that its plastic can lend it to being a number of bolder colors, most PU leather sticks fairly close to the shades of tan and brown that most real leather is found in. The answer is no. Polyurethane leather can also be produced in a wider variety of colors, patterns, and styles than real leather can. In contrast, PU leather can begin to crack and crease in only a few years. When comparing these three different types of leather, it is really going to come down to personal preference. Leather is a reliable and beautiful material that’s used in the construction of all kinds of useful products in our daily lives thanks to its adaptability and ease of use. Careful examination of the material can also reveal the identity of the leather in question. While real leather has that distinctive smell we’re all familiar with, PU leather usually can’t replicate that scent. A good synthetic leather PU boxing glove is sometimes equivalent or even better than a leather boxing glove. Splash a few drops of water on it and it should be obvious. If you ever happen to find yourself in a situation where you’re choosing between one or the other, consider your intended use for the item and the various factors you’ve learned about here to make the best decision. In the end, while PU leather does have its uses, real leather is the ideal material for most applications. A keychain, for example, likely wouldn’t be put under much stress and would retain its integrity for quite a while even when made from PU leather. It can be cleaned with water or soap on a damp rag, but if oil or sweat has stained it will need to be cleaned with a special leather cleaner. With many items like this already being made from different kinds of plastics, you wouldn’t be missing out too significantly with an artificial leather as opposed to a real one. But from the distance it is almost impossible to tell the difference and can easily be taken for genuine leather. Last edited: 26 Nov 2019. As such, here’s a handy guide breaking down the differences between PU leather and real leather, plus the pros and cons of each option. The leather used to make JooJoobs Wallets. Real leather is more biodegradable than artificial leather, but as previously mentioned there are many hazardous chemicals used in the tanning of real leather that can be very pollutive. These […]. More commonly, what you’ll smell is an artificial, plastic or chemical odor that, while not necessarily unpleasant depending on the materials and manufacturing process, does not properly match the smell of real leather. Genuine leather may need to have a leather conditioner applied from time to time to keep it supple, or else it will become stiff or brittle. Given its intent is to mimic real leather as closely as possible (helped by the fact it does technically contain remnants of real leather), PU leather can be remarkably similar to real leather in texture and appearance. Want more Science Trends? As mentioned before, PU leather is typically more uniform and smooth in appearance and texture, respectively, meaning these are often a good tipoff to the true nature of your leather. For one, the actual texture of PU leather might be a great deal smoother or more uniform than real leather. PU leather is much cheaper than genuine leather PU leather can be produced in a wide variety of colors and styles PU leather is easy to clean and maintain with just a damp cloth PU leather is resistant to UV rays, so it doesn’t fade as easily PU leather doesn’t dry out over time like genuine leather PU leather doesn’t require animals to make, PU leather isn’t very breathable when compared to real leather PU leather doesn’t develop the patina or luster of genuine leather over time PU leather doesn’t have the hypoallergenic traits real leather does PU leather is easily damaged, it can be punctured or torn more easily than real leather PU leather doesn’t last as long as real leather can, Genuine leather is much more breathable than real leather Genuine leather develops a notable patina and luster over time Genuine leather has hypoallergenic qualities Genuine leather is very durable and resistant to puncturing or tearing Genuine leather lasts much longer than PU leather, Genuine leather is much more expensive than PU leather Genuine leather can only be produced in a few styles or colors Genuine leather needs more maintenance than PU leather Genuine leather gets discolored or cracked by UV radiation Genuine leather dries out over time and needs to be maintained. Sign up for our science newsletter! This is what makes leather clothing so great, especially the shoes. PU leather is fake and lasts about 1 year, then it starts breaking down rapidly. It’s also less physically durable, so those with intensive jobs or who expect to find themselves in rough situations frequently would do well to stick to something more substantial. PU leather consists of a split leather backing, topped with Polyurethane coating that gives the fabric a finish similar to natural leather, with similar flexibility too. PU leather is more artificial than it is genuine. We have a small dog. At present, more than […], Glycosylation is the ubiquitous, highly-regulated process by which carbohydrate is added to proteins and lipids to form glycoconjugates (glycans). Polyurethane isn’t quite as durable as real leather and tends to tear more easily, though it also doesn’t crack or fade when exposed to sunlight as some real leathers can. On the other hand, because leather lasts longer than artificial leather less waste may be produced as a byproduct. With PU leather being manufactured to a uniform standard, this typically does not exist for the artificial plastic. However, there are several differences that set them apart. Given that leather comes from animal hide, it will likely have some degree of imperfection with respect to the condition of the animal’s skin it was taken from. In terms of performance, polyurethane leather is waterproof, can be dry-cleaned, is soft and supple and much lighter than real leather. PVC leather, or sometimes simply called Vinyl, is made out of fabric leather backing, topped with a foam layer, skin … First of all, real leather is quite breathable whereas PU is considerably less so. Associate. We cover everything from solar power cell technology to climate change to cancer research. Real leather comes from cows. This only tells you if there’s a PU coating, though, as there could be real leather beneath. 2 years ago. Here is the in-depth, long answer. Lastly, the most surefire way to determine whether or not a piece of leather is real or PU is to observe it as it ages. The PU leather generally has the same texture as the animal skin (real leather), but in most cases, it’s lighter, and at the same time it is not as durable as real leather and tends to tear easily. In addition to the many variations on leather itself, there’s also the factor of things like PU leather. February 03, 2020; Top Quality Handcrafted Genuine Leather Rucksack Backpacks for Hiking & Camping January 03, 2020 The Best Genuine Leather Messenger Bags for Men January 02, 2020 High-Quality Leather Messenger Bags with Genuine Leather Straps December 25, 2019 For leathers worldwide maintenance for leather is, there are multiple things consider... Called bi-cast leather may use a base of divided real leather not useful when,! 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