Hello All,
I've been reading ALOT of reviews and doing extensive product research. Alot of people have been complaining about smells and feel of something we all came to know as the famous PU Leather. I started thinking to myself, what IS PU Leather and after heating people talk about questionable smell and texture I started doing research. Here is what WIKI has to say about this PU Leather stuff
What does this all mean? Well it ends up we are paying Premium Top Dollar for our ipad cases when they are made from laminated leather, considered "worthless" (by wikis definition) with glue into a biproduct that does not improve with age as genuine leather does and that is not even allowed in some countries. The only good news I see in this is that the smell is explained and seems to be a normal thing, it does dissipate after about a week.
What do you you all think?
Sorry if this is not the right section. This is where i thought it belonged most.
I've been reading ALOT of reviews and doing extensive product research. Alot of people have been complaining about smells and feel of something we all came to know as the famous PU Leather. I started thinking to myself, what IS PU Leather and after heating people talk about questionable smell and texture I started doing research. Here is what WIKI has to say about this PU Leather stuff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bicast leather
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Bicast leather (also known as bycast leather, split leather or PU leather) is a split leather with a layer of polyurethane applied to the surface and then embossed. Bycast was originally made for the shoe industry and recently was adopted by the furniture industry. The resulting product is cheaper than top grain leather and has an artificially consistent texture that is easier to clean and maintain.
The use of the term "leather" in relation to this bicast treatment is considered a misrepresentation and therefore not permitted in the United Kingdom and New Zealand [1] Furniture made with bicast exhibits none of the characteristics associated with genuine leather; it will not develop a patina or suppleness nor otherwise "improve with age". With constant use the polyurethane layer will crack and split free of its backing.[2][3]
Modern technology permits up to three or four horizontal layers being taken from the one hide. The leather used in the backing of bicast is a thin, otherwise worthless, layer remaining after better quality layers have been removed for traditional leather work[citation needed] and contributes nothing to the look and feel of the end product.
Furniture manufacturers say that the main benefit of bicast leather is its price. Lower grades of leather can be used during the manufacturing process and treating with polyurethane gives a uniform shine and a long-lasting "like new" appearance. Bicast leather looks best, they say, on furniture with taut seat cushions and pillows. It can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth. New bicast leather furniture can have a slight chemical smell, but this typically dissipates about a week after the piece is exposed to air.[4]
What does this all mean? Well it ends up we are paying Premium Top Dollar for our ipad cases when they are made from laminated leather, considered "worthless" (by wikis definition) with glue into a biproduct that does not improve with age as genuine leather does and that is not even allowed in some countries. The only good news I see in this is that the smell is explained and seems to be a normal thing, it does dissipate after about a week.
What do you you all think?
Sorry if this is not the right section. This is where i thought it belonged most.