Including Nappa (A-Aniline / / Non-Coated) choose a water-based product that does not clog the pores of perforated leather and does not contain harsh chemicals that can damage the protective covering or strip the pigmented dye. The overall objective is to maintain the appearance of the leather as it was from the factory. (See Aniline) Aniline and Semi-Aniline leather (A-Aniline / Pigmented / Non-Coated) The top 0.25 –inch of the selected leather hide is used in ‘premium’ grade upholstery leather. Top grain leather is leather from the uppermost layer of a hide. It is the highest quality part of the hide. Aniline is a dye not a type of leather per se; it’s a top grain leather hide that retains its colour from transparent dyestuffs rather than from pigment, and as a consequence looks more natural. Semi-Aniline dyed leathers have been both dyed through and have a thin finishing layer on the surface. Most semi- Aniline leather’s are of premium quality, all leathers and dyes react differently to various chemicals. Semi - Aniline top-grain premium leather is mostly used in prestige European automobiles; Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lotus, Lexus and Rolls Royce, US Cadillac and high-end German automobiles such as Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG and BMW. This is the market sector both Leatherequi and Connolly were originally formulated Leather is usually pigmented to give it durability and hide its natural blemishes. Pigmented leathers are easy to maintain and have maximum resistance to wear, soiling, and fading from light. You don't really think cows have tan/grey/or red hides did you? Pigmented leather, like most materials used for auto upholstery has micro-pores that allow transpiration (the passage of water vapour through a membrane or pore.) they are not sealed per se. But due to their molecular size it cannot absorb wax, most liquids, and oils because of the protective properties of the finish. Since the leather hide is coated in a synthetic finish, when treating the leather, you are actually only treating the finish coating. The oils secreted from your skin may cause the hides pigmentation to lose its colour prematurely, taking away the effect of a premium leather interior. Removing these oils is paramount to leather care, but limiting the amount of bare skin you expose to your seats and interior is a great way to prevent discoloration. It has a random shade colours and grain pattern; lightly scratch the surface to see if it reveals a lighter colour, water drops will darken its colour (temporarily). Leather Upholstery and Trim Surface Identification The most important thing to find out before you attempt to clean or care for something is to ascertain what the material is made from. Much the same is true if you’re trying to remove a stain, what caused the stain and what is the material you are trying to remove the stain from. Formulate a detailing plan, then utilize proper detailing techniques, combined with quality products is what makes a details outcome successful. It is important to be able to recognise the different materials used for vehicle upholstery as some OEM use different materials for the various surfaces (i.e. perforated leather for the seating areas, PVC bolsters and seat backs) Before choosing a product to clean or maintain interior surfaces you must be certain of the material used and wither it is Urethane covered or pigmented Aniline, as the correct care product requirements are vastly different. Once you’ve correctly identified the leather and / or the applied finish applicable to your vehicle's upholstery, it’s easier to select suitable products / methods (one size fits all is just a vendor's marketing myth) To identify the material used; (N-Nubuk / Alcantara®) (A-Aniline / Non-Coated) (P-Protected / Coated) Leather however finished has to allow the movement of moisture back and forth (transpiration) so the use of water- based cleaners and protectors will maintain hydration, which is essential to keeping it in pristine condition. (a) Natural leather (A-Aniline / Non-Coated) Aniline Leather is coloured all the way through with a transparent dye. The effect is applied by immersing the leather in a dye bath. Because the finish is transparent and shows the natural markings of the leather, only top quality hides can be used. It is absorbent and has a random shade colours and grain pattern; lightly scratch the surface to see if it reveals a lighter colour, water drops will darken its colour (temporarily). (b) Protected leather (Pigmented) (P-Protected / Coated) - by slightly scratching it with your nail, if it changes to a darker / lighter shade, it is unprotected (i.e. how suede changes colour depending on the fibres' orientation). If this has little effect it’s protected. If water ‘beads’ on the surface, or if cleaners and conditioners remain on the surface, it’s (polyurethane) protected leather as liquids will not penetrate this type of surface; it will also have an even shine. (c) Nubuk, Alcantara® (N-Nubuk / Alcantara® ) - are top-grain cattle hide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibres, producing a velvet-like surface. Alcantara® is a non-organic (synthetic) material. Both materials are very soft to the touch and will scratch or scuff very easily; water drops will darken the surface, but it returns to its original colour after drying. (d) Nappa Leather (A-Aniline // Non-Coated ) – for leather used in autos, nappa is a term that is used to denote a high quality leather, its a very soft, absorbent full grain (uncoated) and usually tanned with alum and chromium salts and dyed throughout, water drops will darken its colour (temporarily). (e) Vinyl - is a non-organic (synthetic) material that has an even, almost repeating pattern. The depth of the lines within the grain on vinyl is also consistent, while the same lines on leather will vary; it is also usually smooth and soft to the touch. water drops will remain (unchanged) on its surface The common denominator for all the above surface finishes is that they all require specific products in accordance with the finish; not forgetting protection from ultra violet (UV) radiation An extract from one of a series of 110 in-depth, unbiased “Detailing Technical Papers” © TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2009, all rights reserved. No trees were harmed in the creation of these articles, but billions of electrons, photons, and electromagnetic waves were terribly inconvenienced!
