Resistant to aggressive effects, non-woven material with a wicker surface and the presence of polyurethane foam is Alcantara. What is ultramicrofiber? In fact, this is an artificial material developed in the early 70s in Japan.
The composition and characteristics of the fabric
In 1972, Italian furniture manufacturers took Japanese technology as a basis, adding their own nuances, and began to produce their own material, which was called Alcantara. What is a high-quality original fabric and what is its composition? The material is 80% nonwoven polyester and 20% fiber polyurethane. We can say that the fabric is very similar to faux suede and has the same characteristics. But at the same time, the material is resistant to fading and staining. It looks the same from the front as well as from the wrong side. It can be machine washed. The fabric is soft, velvety, pleasant to the touch, breathable. It does not rub, does not shine, is resistant to burning.
Areas of use
Mass production and sale of the original material is carried out by Alcantara SpA. These are the most popular and prestigious materials for car sheathing, in the aircraft industry and the production of upholstered furniture. Most luxury cars use Alcantara. What is a car interior decorated with a similar fabric? This is a modern design, beauty, comfort, a variety of textures, a wealth of colors. Using fabric knows no bounds.
Thanks to its flame retardant properties, it is successfully used in the decoration of racing cars and cabin airliners. High-end hotels and restaurants use this particular material for decoration. Finally, the fashion industry successfully uses the described products for sewing clothes, manufacturing shoes, bags, jewelry and parts of wooden musical instruments. When buying expensive products made of such material as Alcantara (the photo of which is presented in the article), you should turn to trusted representatives in the sales market and beware of cheap fakes. Products are marked with original labels from the inside - three pieces per linear meter.
Self-adhesive Alcantara
In fact, Alcantara is the name of the brand under which synthetic material similar to suede is produced. The original product is released only in Italy, and it costs a lot. Japanese developers set up fabric manufacturing in Korea. So there was a Korean self-adhesive analogue of Alcantara. In its properties and quality, artificial fabric is almost no different from the original. This is a synthetic fiber with a low tensile coefficient. The elasticity of the material allows you to glue the surface with bends of any complexity. The material is pleasant to the touch, velvety and soft. At the same time, self-adhesive Alcantara has practicality, wear resistance and durability. These qualities allow its use in car tuning. For dashboards, a material without a backing. With textile backing - for seats. Self-adhesive with a foam base will go to the ceiling and racks of the car. A strong and reliable adhesive layer allows you to use the material for the design of furniture, as well as various miniature products.
Leather or faux suede?
Among the elite finishing materials of car dealerships, the first place is occupied by genuine leather. Alcantara - faux suede with a directed pile and adhesive base - is not inferior to it at all. The genuine leather seat heats up very hot in the heat and causes not very pleasant sensations in cold weather. Suede fabric has the same thickness, which is convenient when decorating complex and uneven parts of the car interior: dashboard, door cards, subwoofer and others. It can be glued without removing the standard skin. The adhesive base used is an acrylic-silicone mixture with high adhesion (adhesion). Holds firmly to any surface - wood, plastic or metal. Faux suede may have perforation. It can be either large or small, in the form of square or round holes.
Features and Care
The popularity of the material is growing due to its wonderful properties, original appearance and ease of maintenance and care. Velvety suede gives a feeling of warmth and creates comfort in the passenger compartment. In leaving is unpretentious and does not require a lot of attention. You can use a soft cloth brush, dry cloth or vacuum cleaner. Easy to clean with a damp cloth and soapy foam. To remove stains, there is a whole list of relevant recommendations. The material is produced in large rolls, with a width of 150 cm to 300 cm. Alcantara has a number of advantages over other types of fabric. What are combined options? This is the use of Alcantara with leather or leatherette. Materials perfectly complement each other. Alcantara is widely used in interior design, for decorating mobile phones or laptops. What to choose is up to you. It depends on how the updated car interior, new shoes and a handbag or tablet will look.