Soiling behavior - Anti-Soiling
The soiling behaviour is used to check how easily the leather becomes soiled and discoloured. The soiling behaviour is determined by the Top Coat. This is the top layer on the leather. Often "anti-soiling" additives are included in the Top Coat to reduce stains.
On pigmented leathers, the dirt settles in the grain structure.
In order to test discolouration, a denim fabric is put into an alkaline sweat solution and then rubbed over the leather surface. The discoloration is measured by comparison with an untreated area. Especially matt and light leather is delicate.
Typical jeans stains.
By changing the leather colours and top coats to water-based systems, the sensitivity of light leather with regard to soiling and discolouration by clothing has greatly increased. The trend towards increasingly matt leathers is probably also a factor. Even the more modern foam coatings with rough surfaces could have an influence on this phenomenon.
Old furniture and vintage cars do not know the problem of "jeans dye transfer". New cars and furniture get stains caused by discolouration due to pants, jackets or belts. Customers often notice this problem when the old furniture or the old car is replaced by a new one, and the sensitivity increases significantly compared to the previous one.
Products and methods that reduce this sensitivity are referred to as "anti-soiling". In order to react to the increasing number of complaints, the chemical industry offers the tannery finish additives with anti-soiling properties. Additives in the top coat with "anti-soiling" properties reduce the soiling. So far, however, the sensitivity has not yet fallen back to levels when solvent based products were used.
Stains caused by a leather belts.
Additional information
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