STRUCTURED ARTIFICIAL LEATHER MATERIAL COMPRISING WATER-LADEN PARTICLES FROM A RENEWABLE RAW MATERIAL

Abstract

A structured artificial leather material comprising a support layer and an application layer, the application layer comprising particles from a renewable raw material, which are laden with water. A method for producing such a structured artificial leather material is also provided.

Claims

1. A structured artificial leather material comprising: a support layer; and an overlay layer arranged on the support layer, the overlay layer comprising particles of a renewable raw material, and the particles are loaded with water.

2. The structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, wherein the renewable raw material includes components of coffee fruits and/or silverskin of coffee fruits.

3. The structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, wherein, wherein the renewable raw material is present in a quantity of at least 10 percent by weight or at least 20 percent by weight, with respect to a total weight of the overlay layer.

4. The structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, wherein the particles have a content of physically bound water from 1 percent by weight to 10 percent by weight or 2 percent by weight to 5 percent by weight.

5. The structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, wherein the particles have, on average, a diameter from 10 ?m to 100 ?m.

6. The structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, wherein the overlay layer is a foam layer.

7. The structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, wherein the artificial leather material comprises: a first overlay layer; and a second overlay layer that is arranged on the first overlay layer, wherein the first overlay layer and/or the second overlay layer comprises particles of a renewable raw material and/or silverskin of coffee fruits, wherein the renewable raw material is present in a quantity of at least 10 percent by weight or at least 20 percent by weight, wherein the particles are loaded with water, and wherein the first overlay layer is an adhesive layer that joins the support layer to the second overlay layer.

8. The structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, wherein the structured artificial leather material has structure elements that are produced by a rupturing of the surface of the artificial leather material.

9. A method for producing a structured artificial leather material according to claim 1, the method comprising: providing a support layer; providing particles from a renewable raw material; loading the particles with water; providing a first overlay layer comprising the particles; and arranging the first overlay layer on the support layer.

10. The method for producing a structured artificial leather material according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises an embossing step, and the embossing step leads to a partial rupturing of the surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a layer structure of an artificial leather material according to the invention in an example;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a coffee fruit in an explanatory representation;

[0054] FIG. 3a shows a non-structured surface of an artificial leather material according to the prior art; and

[0055] FIG. 3b shows a structured surface of an artificial leather material according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a layer structure of an artificial leather material 10 according to the invention in an example. The artificial leather material 10 includes a support layer 5 and multiple overlay layers 1, 2, 3, 4, which are arranged on the support layer 5.

[0057] The support layer 5 confers the requisite mechanical properties, such as tear resistance, on the artificial leather material 10. The support layer 5 is therefore preferably implemented as a textile layer. Even though synthetic fiber materials can in principle also be used for the support layer 5, a support layer 5 that is implemented as a natural fiber knitted fabric is preferred. The concept according to the invention of providing an ecological artificial leather material is taken into account by this means. The natural fibers can be made, for example, of linen, nettle, hemp, ramie, pineapple, and cotton.

[0058] The first overlay layer 4 is implemented as an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer 4 bonds the overlay layers 1, 2, 3, 4 to the support layer 5.

[0059] The adhesive layer 4 includes a renewable raw material. In particular, it was determined that coffee fruits 20, whose structure is described in FIG. 2, are suitable. It was determined in connection with the invention that particles of the silverskin 26 from coffee fruits 20, in particular, are appropriate as a filler for the adhesive layer 4. Silverskin 26 from coffee fruits 20 is generated as a byproduct of coffee production. It is therefore especially appropriate as an ecological filler for the adhesive layer 4. It was furthermore discovered that the use of silverskin particles permits a concentration of over 20 percent by weight, as a rule even over 30 percent by weight, in the adhesive layer 4.

[0060] The second overlay layer 3 is implemented as a foam layer. The foam layer 3 confers the desired consistency and elasticity on the artificial leather material 10.

[0061] The foam layer 3 includes a renewable raw material. In particular, it was determined that coffee fruits 20, whose structure is described in FIG. 2, are suitable. It was determined in connection with the invention that particles of the silverskin 26 from coffee fruits 20, in particular, are appropriate as a filler for the foam layer 3. As already noted, silverskin 26 from coffee fruits 20 is generated as a byproduct of coffee production. It is therefore especially appropriate as an ecological filler for the foam layer 3. It was furthermore discovered that the use of silverskin particles permits a concentration of over 20 percent by weight in the foam layer 3.

[0062] The third overlay layer 2 is implemented as a cover layer. The cover layer functions as an intermediate layer and confers an attractive visual effect on the artificial leather material 10. For example, the overlay layer 2 can include one or more coloring agents in order to confer a color on the artificial leather material. Furthermore, the surface of the artificial leather material can be textured by means of the cover layer. The surface texture that is usual in natural leather, for example in the form of small scratches, can be imitated by means of the cover layer.

[0063] The fourth overlay layer 1 is implemented as a varnish layer or lacquer layer, and confers, for example, nonstick properties and scratch-resistance on the material.

[0064] The varnish layer 1 has a mass per unit area of approximately 60 g/m.sup.2, for example. The cover layer 2 has a mass per unit area of approximately 300 g/m.sup.2, for example. The foam layer 3 has a mass per unit area of approximately 270 g/m.sup.2, for example. The adhesive layer 4 has a mass per unit area of approximately 115 g/m.sup.2, for example.

[0065] FIG. 2 schematically shows a coffee fruit 20 in an explanatory representation. Regardless of the species of the coffee variety, the coffee fruit 20 comprises a coffee bean 28 and fruit pulp 22. Covering the coffee beans is the silverskin 26, also referred to as silver skin, which in turn is surrounded by a parchment 24 and a pectin layer. The silverskin 26 and the parchment 24 serve as a sort of protective layer around the beans 28. The silverskin 26 and the parchment 24 are so fine and thin that they are almost transparent. Located atop the pectin layer is the fruit pulp 22, also referred to as pulp. The surface of the coffee fruit is formed by a pericarp, or skin, which lends the coffee fruit 20 the name coffee cherry because of its generally red color. The silverskin 26 of coffee fruits 20 is generated as a byproduct of coffee production, since mainly the coffee bean is utilized in coffee production. The silverskin 26 is therefore especially appropriate as an ecological filler for the artificial leather material according to the invention.

[0066] FIG. 3a shows a non-structured surface of an artificial leather material 14.

[0067] FIG. 3b, in contrast, shows a structured surface of an artificial leather material 10 according to the invention.

[0068] The structured artificial leather material 10 from FIG. 3b was produced by means of the method according to the invention. This method comprises the steps: provision of a support layer and provision of particles from a renewable raw material. In order to make the particles, the renewable raw material was ground, then loaded with additional water and incorporated in an overlay layer. In addition, the artificial leather material was subjected to an embossing step. The structured artificial leather material 10 thus obtained has a multiplicity of structure elements 12, which are distributed over the entire surface of the artificial leather material. These structure elements 12 are produced by a rupturing of the surface of the artificial leather material during the embossing step, and can be attributed to the loading of the particles with water.

[0069] In the case of the non-structured artificial leather material 14 in FIG. 3a, the renewable raw material was ground, but not loaded with additional water. The artificial leather material was likewise subjected to an embossing step. The artificial leather material 14 thus obtained does not have a multiplicity of structure elements. Instead, the artificial leather material forms an essentially homogeneous surface, and does not achieve the authentic visual effect of the material according to the invention.

[0070] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.