Clean Leather Energized By
AQUADERM X-Shield® Chemistry For Clean LeatheR. A new technology!
There is an increasing trend towards pale colors in car interiors, and furniture upholstery as well. Whereas in the past almost exclusively subdued, darkcolored leather were used in these applications, there has been a growing demand in pale cream, beige and gray or even offwhite shades over the past years. As far as the technical requirements are concerned, there is no basic difference between these “new” colors and the old ones with one exception: their antisoiling and antistaining properties and cleanability. Light colors are by nature more sensitive to soiling and staining in many cases regular cleaning is necessary to prevent an undesirable patina from forming on car seats or leather furniture.
The Challenge: Soiling and Staining
- Bright colors are by nature more sensitive to soiling and staining. - Enhanced antisoiling / antistaining and cleaning behavior are of need. - Performance and esthetics of leather must be maintained. - Leather must remain leather with all its desirable properties. The contamination of leather must be differentiated by different pollutants because Dirt ≠ Dirt. Different kinds of dirt are applied and cleaned by different test methods.
testing ≠ testing What and how is tested?
Staining The following test methods are used to evaluate the antistaining and antisoiling properties of leather: Staining is tested by applying the contaminants onto the leather directly with: - oily substances in combination with graphite - markers, ball pen, cosmetics, food and beverages like chocolate and wine or coffee, mineral oil products, etc. - with jeans fabric treated with perspiration solution Subsequently the dirt is wiped off with common household cleaners. The cleaning efficacy is evaluated and rated.
soiling
soiling cloth
Soiling is tested with standardized fabrics, contaminated with different pollutants are rubbed over the leather by means of the Martindale abrasion tester - After 2.000 cycles the degree of color change on the leather is measured. - Subsequently the dirt is wiped off by means of common leather cleaners and the color change is measured again: The aim is to reduce the amount of soiling to a minimum or, in the case of soiling, to ensure that the surface can be cleaned easily and completely. At the same time the cleanability should be long-lasting.
Martindale test specimen after soiling / after cleaning
What is AQUADERM X-Shield® about?
How is AQUADERM X-Shield® applied?
The AQUADERM X-Shield® system is based on two different approaches.
The AQUADERM X-Shield® system is applied like normal top coats. It is generally sprayed onto a conventional base coat or the first top coat, only a thin film being required. In dependence of the leather goods manufacturers’ requirements the X-Shield system allows the individual customization of all kinds of leather articles.
1. For the best possible protection against staining and for excellent cleanability, specially developed, aqueous tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) co-polymer dispersions are used (AQUADERM X-Shield® G / M2). Unlike conventional fluorocarbon products, this system forms a crosslinked, permanent and very uniform protective layer on the surface of the leather. This provides outstanding and longlasting soil repellence and cleanability. AQUADERM X-Shield® G, the gloss component and AQUADERM X-Shield® M2 the matt component. 2. For excellent soiling resistance and cleanability an additional TFE based comb polymer was developed as an additive. AQUADERM X-Shield® L is used as the prime additive in top coats in order to significantly improve antisoiling performance as e.g. determined by means of EMPA 104 / 128 / 170 testing fabrics. The use of AQUADERM® Additive GF as an additional Additive in combination with AQUADERM X-Shield® L further improves the performance in this field.
What makes Aquaderm X-Shield® so unique? The following properties are due to the TFE structural units in the co-polymer of AQUADERM X-Shield® G / M2 - water- and oil-repellence - outstanding cleanability - improved stability of the co-polymer backbone against degradation and U.V. radiation - excellent long lastingness and durability
Aquaderm X-Shield® G / M2
Solution for Staining
For efficient and long lasting antistaining protection and cleanability
X-Shield Cleanability Guide With X-Shield
Coffee
after cleaning
Ballpen
after cleaning
Feltpen
after cleaning
Mustard
after cleaning
Lipstick
after cleaning
Chocolate
after cleaning
Nail polish
after cleaning
Shoe polish
after cleaning
Wax crayon
after cleaning
... Without
With X-Shield
... Without
With X-Shield
... Without
Aquaderm X-Shield® L
Solution for Soiling
For optimized antisoiling and cleanability performance
X-Shield Protected after soiling / after cleaning
conventional finish after soiling / after cleaning
This information and our advice - whether verbal, in writing or by way of trials - are given in good faith but without warranty, and this also applies where proprietary rights of third parties are involved. Our advice does not release you from the obligation to check its validity and to test our products as to their suitability for the intended processes and uses. The application, use and processing of our products and the products manufactured by you on the basis of our technical advice are beyond our control and, therefore, entirely your own responsibility. Our products are sold in accordance with our General Conditions of Sale and Delivery. Copyright © 2011 LANXESS Deutschland GmbH. All rights reserved.
www.lanxessleather.com –
[email protected] – Edition 001-5-2011