Bicast leather (also spelled as bi-cast leather or bycast leather) is a material made with a

split leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning (leather), tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buff ...

backing covered with an embossed layer of

polyurethane Polyurethane (; often abbreviated PUR and PU) refers to a class of polymers composed of organic chemistry, organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethan ...

vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl m ...

. Bicast leather was originally made for the

apparel Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural ...

industry for glossy shoes, and was later adopted by the

furniture Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (tables), storing items, eating and/or working with an item, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). Fu ...

industry.

Production and features

The hide material used in the making of bicast is usually a portion of the fibrous, lower grade of leather that remains when the higher-grade grain layer is split off. Bicast leather is produced by building up a layer of plastic (typically

) on top of an embossed

release paper A release liner or ''release paper'' is a paper or plastic-based film sheet (usually applied during the manufacturing process) used to prevent a sticky surface from prematurely adhering. It is coated on one or both sides with a release agent, whi ...

known as ''casting paper''. The embossing is usually giving the appearance of top grain leather, although it may be smooth depending on the desired finish. The plastic layer may optionally include: pigment, foams of various consistencies, and adhesives. Split leather is then applied and pressed onto the plastic, which may have been dried. After the resultant bicast leather has cured, the casting paper is removed, and optionally re-used. New bicast leather can have a chemical odor, but this typically dissipates about a week after the piece is exposed to air. The use of terms like "genuine leather" or "100% leather" in relation to bicast treatment is considered a misrepresentation and therefore not permitted in some countries, including the UK, Denmark, and New Zealand. Furniture manufacturers say that the main benefit of bicast leather is its surface appearance at a low price. With constant use, however, the polyurethane layer may crack and split free of its backing, and abrasion may cause large unsightly marks.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bicast Leather Leather Leathermaking

Production and features

See also

References