Office Chair Leather Identification
Office chair leather identification can be carried out from three dimensions: material authenticity, physical properties, and chemical safety, combining sensory identification with laboratory physical and chemical analysis for a comprehensive assessment.
Sensory Identification Methods
Observation of Surface Features Natural leather has fine, irregularly distributed pores, with a natural texture and grain surface that may exhibit natural defects (such as insect bites or growth marks), which are inherent to animal skin. Artificial or synthetic leather often has mechanically embossed pores that are neatly arranged, with repetitive textures and an overly perfect, flawless surface.
Touch and Resilience Test Genuine leather feels soft and elastic, quickly returning to its original shape after being pressed, with a gentle rebound process and a sense of 'body' (i.e., support). Coated materials (such as PVC or PU leather) feel harder or overly smooth, lacking the natural toughness of genuine leather; recycled leather, due to its broken and recombined fibers, feels loose and has poor resilience.
Odor Identification Genuine leather, after tanning, carries a faint scent of sebum or the natural odor of animal hide. Artificial materials (such as plastic-coated leather) usually have a distinct chemical plastic smell, which becomes more pronounced when heated or rubbed.
Cross-Sectional Structure Observation Observing the cross-section from the edge or cut of the leather: genuine leather transitions from the grain layer (surface) to the reticular layer (interior), with fibers arranged in an irregular, interwoven network; artificial leather shows distinct layers, with a fabric or non-woven base layer at the bottom and a foamed coating on top, with a clear and regular interface between layers.
Laboratory Identification Methods
Stereomicroscope Analysis By magnifying and observing the pore morphology and coating structure of the grain surface. The pores of genuine leather appear as natural depressions, with a thin and uniform coating; artificial leather has artificially embossed pores, with the coating possibly covering the entire surface and showing signs of mechanical processing.
Infrared Spectroscopy Detection Using infrared light to identify the type of coating polymer. Genuine leather will display characteristic collagen absorption peaks (such as amide bands I and II) in the infrared spectrum, while artificial leather will show characteristic peaks of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU).
Shrinkage Temperature Measurement Genuine leather, due to tanning, has a high shrinkage temperature (usually >80ยฐC), reflecting the degree of tanning; untanned or low-quality leather has a low shrinkage temperature and is prone to deformation at high temperatures. This method can assist in judging the processing quality of the leather.
By combining sensory and laboratory methods, one can comprehensively evaluate the authenticity and quality of office chair leather, avoiding issues such as poor durability or chemical safety risks caused by inferior materials.
