Napped artificial leather and manufacturing method therefor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional napped artificial leathers suffer from color unevenness, insufficient mechanical strength, and a rough skin feeling, making them unsuitable for applications requiring a texture similar to natural leather.

Innovation Solution

A napped artificial leather is developed with a nonwoven fabric containing microfine fibers and a high-molecular elastic body, where the content of the high-molecular elastic body is 15 to 35 mass%, the area ratio of the high-molecular elastic body on the napped surface is 17% or less, and the napped fiber length is 250 µm or less, thereby suppressing color unevenness and enhancing mechanical strength and texture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the napped fiber length is increased to suppress color unevenness, then color uniformity is improved, but the skin feeling deteriorates and denseness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor uniformityVSAvoidskin feeling

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the napped fiber length within the range of 50-200 μm and the high-molecular elastic body content at 15-35 mass%. This optimization of parameters achieves a balance where color uniformity is maintained while preventing the deterioration of skin feeling and denseness that occurs with longer fibers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the content of high-molecular elastic body is increased to improve mechanical strength, then tensile strength is improved, but color unevenness occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidcolor uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by optimizing the content of high-molecular elastic body to 15-35 mass% and controlling its area ratio on the napped surface to 17% or less. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient tensile strength while preventing color unevenness during dyeing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by controlling the distribution and area ratio of the high-molecular elastic body on the napped surface. By limiting the area ratio to 17% or less, the elastic body provides mechanical strength locally without causing widespread color unevenness across the entire surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the area ratio of high-molecular elastic body on napped surface is increased to improve mechanical strength, then frictional wear property is improved, but color unevenness occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrictional wear propertyVSAvoidcolor uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by optimizing the area ratio of high-molecular elastic body on the napped surface to 17% or less. This parameter control ensures sufficient frictional wear resistance while preventing color unevenness during dyeing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4553219A1Napped artificial leather and manufacturing method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.05.14 KURARAY CO LTD

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AI summary

A napped artificial leather including: a nonwoven fabric containing microfine fibers and a high-molecular elastic body, the napped artificial leather having a napped surface, in which a content of the high-molecular elastic body is 15 to 35 mass%, an area ratio of the high-molecular elastic body present on the napped surface is 17% or less, and a napped fiber length is 250 µm or less.