Textile and Apparel Science

Case Study of Durability, Abrasion Resistance, and Colorfastness to Crocking and Frosting on Faux Leather Fabrics

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Abstract

Faux leather can be made by coating a layer of polyurethane (PU) embossed onto the surface of a fabric. Faux leather is less abrasion resistant and breathable, but more colorfast to light than genuine leather. As faux leather fabrics are increasingly used, more extensive research on faux leathers is needed to better understand durability and abrasion resistance aspects of faux leathers that influence performance of apparel products. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine faux leather’s durability, abrasion resistance, and colorfastness related to various abrasions, surface contact, and rubbing. Two different types of faux leather fabrics were used as a sample in this study: 1) faux leather fabric with PU coating and 2) textured faux leather fabric without PU coating. Results show the faux leather fabric with PU coating was durable and abrasion resistant against flat and flex abrasions, and pilling; also had good colorfastness to surface contact and rubbing (crocking) and flat abrasion (frosting). The textured faux leather fabric was resistant against flex abrasion and pilling only. Both fabrics had severe visual changes after flat abrasion because of coated surface peeling, weight loss due to multi-directional abrasion, and severe surface changes due to snagging. Results from this study provided academic researchers and consumers with more detailed information about faux leather fabrics’ durability, abrasion resistance, and colorfastness aspects in relation to types of coatings, various abrasions, surface contact, rubbing, pilling, and snagging. The different results between the two faux leather fabrics need more investigation as to what makes a faux leather superior to another faux leather.

Keywords: faux leather, durability, abrasion resistance, colorfastness

How to Cite:

Parks, H., Yu, U. & Walsh, M., (2022) “Case Study of Durability, Abrasion Resistance, and Colorfastness to Crocking and Frosting on Faux Leather Fabrics”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13305