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High-performance microfibre leather: water-based PU coating with UV, moisture and bacteria protection
A Chinese research team has developed an innovative coating for microfibre leather: breathable, moisture-regulating, antibacterial and UV-resistant – with excellent mechanical properties thanks to hollow silica spheres containing lignin.
In the development of synthetic leather materials, comfort and function have often been in competition with each other. The water-based PU coating (WPU) now presented solves this dilemma. By integrating lignin-hybrid hollow silica spheres (LHHS) into a WPU matrix, a highly functional microfibre leather (MWPU-MFL) has been created that simultaneously meets several technical requirements – from breathability to UV protection.
The porous structure of the LHHSs significantly improves both air permeability (193.39 mm/s) and moisture permeability (4,922.9 g/m²·24 h). At the same time, the embedded lignin components provide high UV absorption (UPF 1600) and antibacterial properties with efficacy against E. coli (97.8 %) and S. aureus (95 %) due to the functional groups of their lignin components.
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Mechanical strength despite multifunctionality
Thanks to hydrogen bonds between lignin groups and the WPU matrix, the mechanical stability of the microfibre leather is maintained – with a tensile strength of 20 MPa. The combination of a rigid nanofiller and soft matrix material follows a multiphase reinforcement approach and shows potential for applications in demanding environments, such as in textile technology, the automotive industry or in protective equipment.
The study presents a sustainable, water-based strategy for the development of multifunctional artificial leather materials – with strong relevance for technological and environmentally oriented applications.
Source: Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 200, March 2025, 109021
