DIN 53361 Testing of Artificial Leather and Similar Sheet Materials - Determination of Compression when Cold Folded

A European standard, DIN 53361, defines a test method for determining the pressure when cold folding artificial leather and similar sheet materials.

Efforts to create biogenic and synthetic alternatives to animal-based materials are rapidly developing in various sectors. Parallel to this, bio-based raw materials are increasingly preferred over fossil-based synthetic raw materials. Meanwhile, advanced laboratories are conducting tests and analyses aimed at comparing the structure and technical performance of artificial leather and similar sheet materials. These studies focus on the structure and composition of artificial materials, microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface properties, mechanical performance, water vapor permeability, standard physical properties, and water absorption resistance. In fact, none of the leather alternatives appear to possess the characteristics that demonstrate the universal performance of leather. It is known that the strong, multi-layered structure of leather with a very tight surface and the structural density value on the cross-section are effective in this universal performance. To date, this structure has not been achieved with either synthetic or bio-based materials. Nevertheless, some artificial materials exhibit high values ​​in selected properties.

Leather is a biologically based and biodegradable material, and its history is almost as long as that of humanity. For centuries, it has been used as a durable material with a strong and wide range of applications.

According to the DIN 53361 standard, evaluations are made in the cold folding test as follows:

• Longitudinal and diagonal behavior of the material when folding in the cold at minus 20 degrees (no cracks on the top)
• Behavior after hot storage when folding in the cold at minus 20 degrees (no cracks on the top)
• Minus 20 degrees cold resistance (no cracks in cold folding test)
• Minus 20 degrees cold folding test (no cracks should be seen)
• Behavior towards milk of lime (no cracks should be seen)

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services for determining the pressure when artificial leather and similar sheet materials are cold folded, within the scope of DIN 53361 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.