Health Awareness
Odorless
Silicone leather is made with our own silicone compound, which includes a solvent-free production process that creates ultra low VOCs. Comparatively, pvc and polyurethane fabrics may, and oftentimes, do contain odors that are caused by plasticizers and other chemicals. As Sileather® silicone fabrics do not contain many of these odor causing chemicals, our fabrics are odorless and are perfect indoors and in small areas too.
Why silicone leather is the better option:
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In car interiors, with faux leather, there will usually be an odor of plastic. This "new car smell" is often caused by VOCs released from the plastic and interior fabrics.
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PU faux leather may have a strong irritating plastic smell. This is caused from solvents (DMF, methyl ethyl ketone, formaldehyde), finishing agents, fatliquors, and flame retardants. Waterborne polyurethane also remains as polyisocyanates and amines.
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PVC fabrics will oftentimes have a strong irritant plastic odor, (the main smell caused by solvents, finishing agents, fatliquors, plasticizers, and anti-mildew agents).
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
The main components in VOCs are: hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, oxygen and hydrocarbons, which include: benzene, organic chloride, freon series, organic ketone, amine, alcohols, ether, esters, acids and petroleum hydrocarbon compounds.
Mainly from the furniture decorative materials: paint, paint, adhesives, etc. VOC is the volatile organic compounds in English abbreviation. These volatile organic compounds include formaldehyde, ammonia, ethylene glycol, esters and other substances.
Effects of having VOCs can be shown from this example: When a room reaches certain concentration of VOCs, The air and environment in it can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and other symptoms, and can even cause severe convulsions, coma, damaging to the liver, kidneys, brain and nervous system, resulting in memory loss and other serious consequences.
Sileather® fabrics have ultra low VOCs, so it is among the healthiest fabrics, making it perfect for use around children, hospitals, hotels, boat cabins, trains, and any number of enclosed spaces.
VOCs test: Indoor Advantage Gold certificate.
Skin Friendly
Sileather® silicone fabrics are made with the same material as baby bottle nipples, so they are gentle enough even for babies' skin. Our unique soft touch and smooth texture makes it appealing in all applications. Other applications of silicone include catheters, contact lens, swimming ear plugs, baking molds, and more!
Sileather™ has been tested for: cytotoxicity (MEM Elution) [ISO-10993-5] with a passing score; and skin irritation [ISO-10993-10] as a negligible irritant. Both tests were conducted in compliance with the US FDA Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations, as directed in 21 CFR Part 58.
This means that prolonged exposure to our fabrics will not cause irritation to your skin, nor is it harmful to you if you were to put it into your mouth. This is great for kids, hospital care, and even more applications!