Leather is one of the oldest industries known to mankind, its use going back almost 500,000 years. Leather making today, is a complex process. The same basic production stages will be common to all leather manufacture. However, the leather used for automotive upholstery varies from leather industry standard descriptions and although the names are similar the type of leather, pigmentation and finish are often very different.



Leather is a collective term for all hides and skins which have been tanned. These can come from any type of animal, but the majority of leather products are made from cow-hide, especially in the upholstery trade as these provide the skin area needed to cut the largest panels.



Using products that have been formulated correctly and thoroughly tested is therefore important to prolong the life of finished leather upholstery.



Leather Hides – are the skin of large animals, usually cattle. Leather is a natural product and because of this there will be some shade variation



Finished Leather - a generic term for all hides and skins which have been tanned and a finish applied; i.e. automotive leather upholstery



Aniline leather – (this is a misnomer; aniline is a transparent dye not a specific type of leather, although premium grade leather is used) its absorbent and is dyed with an immersion type process rather than having a pigmentation added, the dye provides an even overall colour and, so that the original grain surface can be seen completely unhindered. It is then protected with a very thin layer of completely transparent, abrasion resistant urethane; hence there is very little, if any shade variation, a bit like staining wood rather than painting it. Unprotected Aniline is rarely use for automobile upholstery



Micro Pigment (the correct name for Semi-aniline or Aniline used for automotive leather) - - is a term used by the leather industry to better describe leather with a fine layer of pigment coating as opposed to the mislabelled ‘Semi Aniline’. Aniline leather will absorb moisture unless it has been treated in some way.



More often used for automotive upholstery as it is more durable than aniline whilst still retaining a natural appearance? Aniline leather which has received a surface coating containing a small amount of pigment in the base coat, this surface coating helps impart greater stain resistance. The increased durability is provided by the application of a light surface coating which contains both pigment (colour) and an anti-abrasion additive, this ensures consistent colour, imparts some stain resistance and helps with the abrasion of entering and exiting the vehicle



Coated Leather - the surface coating applied to the leather substrate does not exceed one-third of the total thickness of the product, but is in excess of 150 (microns).



Nappa Leather – is the tanned skin of a sheep and generally denoted as high quality, soft, full grain leather, like Aniline this grade of leather would not stand the rigorous use of an automobile interior..



Unfinished Leather - is left in its natural state without the application of a clear coat, unfinished leather is very rarely found in modern automobiles and must be maintained on a regular basis with products utilizing natural oils



Leather Dye- the application of a Pigment (colour) either by hand rubbing or immersion.



Pigmented - leather that has been applied with a surface colour, usually by spraying and is analogous to the "staining" of wood





Note: in the US Dye and Pigmentation are used interchangeably



Associated Articles



1. "A Brief History of Leather" - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...ml#post1463189



2. “Leather Surface Identification” - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...ml#post1451654



Reference Sorces



1. http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...ml#post1474865



2. Leather Research Laboratory – University of Cincinnati