Coated leather - Laminated leather

What is coated or laminated leather?

Leather experts designate all leathers coated with a film as laminated or coated leather. Leather, which is coloured by spraying, is called pigmented leather.

Laminated split leather. Pigmentation in the spray process.

Patent leather is usually coated with films.

Coated leather also includes film-coated split leather.

Foil coating on split leather and PU split leather.

The colour layer is as thick as a coating. It is pigmented and embossed split leather.

Frequently, coated split leathers are offered in the lower price segment. They are more susceptible to damage, are not particularly soft and are not breathable compared to leather used in high quality furniture. Advances in technology have also led to the development of high quality coatings which make it virtually impossible to tell the difference - even for leather experts.

PU split leather with a strong coating.

Suede with a textile coating.

Metallic leather is often coated to make the surface appear like polished metal. For this purpose, thin layers are applied that look like a polished metal surface.

Above: A crease has been folded during the coating process. Films on metallic leather are very thin.

Delamination of coated leather

Foil coated leathers have a higher risk of delamination compared to leathers without foil coatings. The delamination is the result of insufficient bonding of the coating with the fiber structure of the leather.