Bio-based leather

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention relates to bio-based leathers that do not contain polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVP) or dimethylformamide (DMF). Also disclosed are methods of making bio-based leathers.

1 . A bio-based leather comprising
 (a) a bio-polymer mixture comprising:
 i. about 25% to about 60% of a plant-based composition comprising vegetal material; and 
 ii. about 40% to about 75% of a curative pre-polymer mixture; and 
   (b) a fiber cloth.   
     
     
         2 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather does not comprise polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
     
     
         3 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather is 100% plant-based material. 
     
     
         4 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the plant-based composition is about 100% plant-based material or is 100% plant-based material. 
     
     
         5 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the vegetal material is apple. 
     
     
         6 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the curative pre-polymer mixture comprises an epoxidized polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The bio-based leather of  claim 6 , wherein the epoxidized polymer is epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) or epoxidized vegetable oil. 
     
     
         8 . The bio-based leather of  claim 6 , wherein the epoxidized polymer comprises about 25% epoxidation. 
     
     
         9 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber cloth is cotton, bamboo, jute or microfiber. 
     
     
         10 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather comprises zinc salts of organic acids. 
     
     
         11 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has a weight of about 250 g/m 2  to about 570 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has a tensile strength along the grain of greater than about 280, greater than about 300, greater than about 350, or greater than about 500 N/5 cm or wherein the bio-based leather has a tensile strength across the grain of greater than about 15, greater than about 80, greater than about 120, greater than about 500, greater than about 600 or greater than about 650 N/5 cm. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has a max elongation along the grain of greater than about 13%, greater than about 15%, greater than about 20%, greater than 30% or greater than about 100% or wherein the bio-based leather has a max elongation across the grain of greater than about 13%, greater than about 20%, greater than about 30%, greater than about 100%, greater than about 110% or greater than about 250%. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has a tear strength along the grain of greater than about 10 N, greater than about 12 N, greater than about 15 N, or greater than about 25 N or wherein the bio-based leather has a tear strength across the grain of greater than about 7 N, greater than about 10 N, greater than about 12 N, greater than about 15 N, greater than about 20 N, or greater than about 30 N. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has an adhesion along the grain of greater than about 7 N/5 cm, greater than about 15 N/5 cm, greater than about 20 N/5 cm, greater than about 25 N/5 cm, greater than about 30 N/5 cm, or greater than about 35 N/5 cm or has an adhesion across the grain of greater than about 3 N/5 cm, greater than about 20 N/5 cm, greater than about 25 N/5 cm, greater than about 30 N/5 cm, or greater than about 35 N/5 cm. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has flexometries of greater than 100,000 cycles, greater than 120,000 cycles, or greater than 150,000 cycles or wherein the bio-based leather has abrasion resistance of greater than about 6,400 cycles, greater than about 51,200 cycles, greater than about 60,000 cycles, or greater than about 100,000 cycles. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The bio-based leather of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-based leather has a color fastness of 4/5 or 5/5 or wherein the bio-based leather comprises a microencapsulated fragrance. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of making a bio-based leather comprising:
 (a) preparing a plant-based composition, wherein the plant-based composition comprises vegetal material in powder form;   (b) preparing a curative pre-polymer mixture, wherein the curative pre-polymer mixture comprises a solvent and a polymer;   (c) combining the plant-based composition and the curative pre-polymer mixture to form a bio-polymer mixture;   (d) applying the bio-polymer mixture to a fiber cloth; and   (e) applying heat to the composition of step (d), thereby forming a bio-based leather.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the plant-based composition does not comprise polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or dimethylformamide (DMF). 
     
     
         27 .- 47 . (canceled)