SIMULATED LEATHER FABRIC

摘要

1291272 Laminated imitation leather PRODESCO Inc 31 Oct 1969 [20 Feb 1969] 53490/69 Heading B5N [Also in Division D1] An imitation leather having a grained surface comprises a knitted base fabric provided with projecting loops, to which loops is bonded a plastics film in which a grained effect is developed by activating contractile forces in the fabric. The base fabric comprises two yarn systems 21, 22 which may be knit in a tricot pattern; at least the yarn 21 is thermoplastic. The yarn 21 is knit to give a flat structure having loops 23 and underlaps 24, while the yarn 22 is overfed to form the projecting loops 25 and underlaps 26. Yarn 21 may be nylon and yarn 22 may be rayon or nylon. Yarn 22 may be a low-twist multifilament yarn of greater denier than yarn 21. A latent contractile force is developed in the yarn 21 by dry-heating, e.g. at 400‹ F. for 4-6 seconds, whilst stretching, thus causing partial crystallization. The plastics film is then applied to the loops 25, e.g. by deposition from a release paper after formation thereon, and cured or stabilized by heating. The film may be provided with a tie-coat to ensure bonding only to the loops 25. The release paper may be provided with a grain or pigment-loaded indentations to give secondary surface effects on the film. After application of the film, the fabric is heat treated to contract it and thereby develop deep wrinkles in the film resembling the grain of natural leather. Such treatment may be by agitation in boiling water followed by dry heating in a tumbler or an autoclave, and cooling. The base fabric may be dyed before the first heat-treatment and the dye stabilized thereby; alternatively the product may be dyed during the final agitation step.