Abstract: The present invention relates to a flame-retardant leather-like sheet having a soft hand, excellent surface touch and excellent appearance, which includes an entangled nonwoven fabric of microfine polyester fibers having an average single-fiber fineness of 0.5 dtex or less, and an elastic polymer contained inside the nonwoven fabric, wherein a flame-retardant is exhausted into the elastic polymer and wherein a flame retarder solution containing bubbles forcibly formed is applied to a back surface of the leather-like sheet so that the flame retarder is present in a region extending from the back surface to an inside of the leather-like sheet but is not present on side of a front surface of the leather-like sheet.

Abstract: The sheet material produced in accordance with the invention has soft and enriched texture like natural leather and is suitable as any type of artificial leather for shoes, clothes, gloves and the like, particularly for sports gloves.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is a split leather product provided with a base material comprising split leather, and a skin layer laminated on a surface of the base material. The skin layer comprises a composite body of an entangled nonwoven fabric formed from microfine fibers, and a polymeric elastomer that impregnates the gaps in the entangled nonwoven fabric. The entangled nonwoven fabric in such a split leather product has the effect of increasing physical strength without detracting from a leather-like texture, in the same way as the longitudinally and transversally crisscrossing collagen fibers in the reticular layer. It is thus possible to obtain a split leather product that resembles leather not only in outward appearance but also in the feel derived from wrinkles and the like resulting when the leather is bent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flame-retardant leather-like sheet having a soft hand, excellent surface touch and excellent appearance, which includes an entangled nonwoven fabric of microfine polyester fibers having an average single-fiber fineness of 0.5 dtex or less, and an elastic polymer contained inside the nonwoven fabric, wherein a flame-retardant is exhausted into the elastic polymer and wherein a flame retarder solution containing bubbles forcibly formed is applied to a back surface of the leather-like sheet so that the flame retarder is present in a region extending from the back surface to an inside of the leather-like sheet but is not present on side of a front surface of the leather-like sheet.

Abstract: Provided is an artificial leather sheet that comprises microfine fibers of an inelastic polymer having a mean fiber diameter of at most 5 ?m and an elastic polymer, in which the major portion of the elastic polymer forms a fibrous structure of the entangled nonwoven fabric with the microfine fibers of inelastic polymer throughout the entire layer of the artificial leather sheet in the thickness direction thereof, and a part of the elastic polymer forms a porous layer integrated with the entangled nonwoven fabric structure on at least one face of the artificial leather sheet. The artificial leather sheet does not substantially undergo structure deformation even when repeatedly elongated and deformed. It has good elastic stretchability, and has a soft and dense feel, and its appearance is good not detracting from the drapability of the sheet.

Abstract: A raised sheet composed of three layers which are united by entanglement. The three layers are united in a layered structure of entangled nonwoven fabric A made of microfine fibers/polyurethane sheet B/woven or knitted fabric C or a layered structure of entangled nonwoven fabric A made of microfine fibers/woven or knitted fabric C/polyurethane sheet B. On the surface of the entangled nonwoven fabric A, raised naps of the microfine fibers are formed. A part of the microfine fibers constituting the entangled nonwoven fabric A penetrates through the polyurethane sheet B and the woven or knitted fabric C in this order, or penetrates through the woven or knitted fabric C and the polyurethane sheet B in this order. At least a part of the penetrated microfine fibers bonds to polyurethane which constitutes the polyurethane sheet B. The raised sheet is excellent in the shape stability, for example, it does not lose its shape even after a long term use.

Abstract: A method of producing an entangled fabric for artificial leathers including a step of uniting a woven/knitted fabric and an entangled nonwoven fabric by entanglement. The method includes (1) a step of superposing the woven/knitted fabric on one surface of the entangled nonwoven fabric; (2) a step of needle-punching the superposed body from a side of the entangled nonwoven fabric so as to allow fibers constituting the entangled nonwoven fabric to enter into the woven/knitted fabric and then penetrate through the woven/knitted fabric, thereby forming a nonwoven fabric layer composed of the penetrated fibers on an outer surface of the woven/knitted fabric; and (3) a step of needle-punching from a side of the nonwoven fabric layer so as to allow a part of the fibers which have penetrated through the woven/knitted fabric and form the nonwoven fabric layer to turn back into the woven/knitted fabric, thereby uniting the woven/knitted fabric and the entangled nonwoven fabric together by entanglement.

Abstract: A colored polyamide fiber composed of a polyamide resin, a pigment, a coupling agent and a compound represented by the following formula I: R?—CO—NH—R—NH—CO—R???(I) wherein R is an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R? and R? are each independently an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 9 to 18 carbon atoms. The colored polyamide fibers are produced without causing bending and fiber break during the melt spinning even when the raw composition contains the pigment in a high concentration. Since the pigment is uniformly dispersed throughout the colored polyamide fibers, the coloration is deep and the strength is high. The colored polyamide fibers are suitable for the production of artificial leathers.

Abstract: An artificial leather including an entangled body made of bundles of microfine fibers and an elastic polymer impregnated into the entangled body. A part of the elastic polymer penetrates into the bundles of microfine fibers. The degree of penetration of the elastic polymer is from 1 to 30% by area when measured on a cross section which is taken along a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the bundles of microfine fibers. The fiber-holding property is improved by the elastic polymer which partly penetrates into the bundles of microfine fibers, and therefore, the artificial leather has a good hand without deteriorating the surface quality.

Abstract: To provide a method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather and substrate for artificial leather which is capable of providing the substrate for artificial leather having a sufficient shape stability by producing the nonwoven fabric for artificial leather without causing serious damages to the scrim. A method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather, including a step of entanglement for uniting superposed fiber web and scrim by a needle punching, wherein the needle punching is performed in a manner satisfying the following formulae 1 and 2: S1<2P?S1/cos(D1×(?/180))??(1) S2<2P?S2/cos(D2×(?/180))??(2) wherein S1 is a diameter of warps constituting the scrim, S2 is a diameter of wefts constituting the scrim, D1 is an angle between the warps and barbs which penetrate the scrim, D2 is an angle between the wefts and barbs which penetrate the scrim, and P is a total barb depth of the barbs.

Abstract: A grain-finished artificial leather composed of a base layer and a coating layer Y formed on one of the surfaces of the base layer. The base layer is composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric X made of bundles of microfine fibers having an average single fiber fineness of 0.07 dtex or less and impregnated with a polymeric elastomer A and a polymeric elastomer B. The entangled nonwoven fabric X is composed of a lower layer XA and an upper layer XB wherein the lower layer XA is impregnated mainly with the polymeric elastomer A which is substantially not adhered to the bundles of microfine fibers and the upper layer XB is impregnated mainly with the polymeric elastomer B which is substantially not adhered to the bundles of microfine fibers.

Abstract: A process for producing a leather-like sheet, wherein a skin-like layer composed of a resin composition (C) is formed on top of a fibrous substrate (E), comprising; heating and melting a moisture-curable polyurethane hot-melt resin composition (C) which contains a hot-melt urethane prepolymer (A) having isocyanate groups at molecular terminal ends and a colorant (B), and applying said heated and melted resin composition (C) to either [1] a releasable substrate (D) and then bonding the coated surface to a fibrous substrate (E), or [2] a fibrous substrate (E) and then bonding the coated surface to a releasable substrate (D); wherein the colorant (B) contains a polyol with a number average molecular weight within a range from 1,000 to 20,000 as a vehicle (B-1), and a pigment (B-2).

Abstract: Problem to be Solved To provide a method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather and substrate for artificial leather which is capable of providing the substrate for artificial leather having a sufficient shape stability by producing the nonwoven fabric for artificial leather without causing serious damages to the scrim. Means for Solving Problem A method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather, including a step of entanglement for uniting superposed fiber web and scrim by a needle punching, wherein the needle punching is performed in a manner satisfying the following formulae 1 and 2; S1<2P?S1/cos(D1×(?/180)) ??(1) S2<2P?S2/cos(D2×(?/180)) ??(2) wherein S1 is a diameter of warps constituting the scrim, S2 is a diameter of wefts constituting the scrim, D1 is an angle between the warps and barbs which penetrate the scrim, D2 is an angle between the wefts and barbs which penetrate the scrim, and P is a total barb depth of the barbs.

Abstract: A grain-finished artificial leather composed of a base layer and a coating layer Y formed on one of the surfaces of the base layer. The base layer is composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric X made of bundles of microfine fibers having an average single fiber fineness of 0.07 dtex or less and impregnated with a polymeric elastomer A and a polymeric elastomer B. The entangled nonwoven fabric X is composed of a lower layer XA and an upper layer XB wherein the lower layer XA is impregnated mainly with the polymeric elastomer A which is substantially not adhered to the bundles of microfine fibers and the upper layer XB is impregnated mainly with the polymeric elastomer B which is substantially not adhered to the bundles of microfine fibers.

Abstract: A process for producing a leather-like sheet, wherein a skin-like layer composed of a resin composition (C) is formed on top of a fibrous substrate (E), comprising; heating and melting a moisture-curable polyurethane hot-melt resin composition (C) which contains a hot-melt urethane prepolymer (A) having isocyanate groups at molecular terminal ends and a colorant (B), and applying said heated and melted resin composition (C) to either [1] a releasable substrate (D) and then bonding the coated surface to a fibrous substrate (E), or [2] a fibrous substrate (E) and then bonding the coated surface to a releasable substrate (D); wherein the colorant (B) contains a polyol with a number average molecular weight within a range from 1,000 to 20,000 as a vehicle (B-1), and a pigment (B-2).

Abstract: The sheet material produced in accordance with the invention has soft and enriched texture like natural leather and is suitable as any type of artificial leather for shoes, clothes, gloves and the like, particularly for sports gloves.

Abstract: A leather-like sheet material comprising a substrate layer composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric consisting of ultrafine fibers and an elastic polymer or elastomer filled therein and having, on one side (side A) of the substrate layer, a grain layer comprising an elastomer mainly consisting of a polyurethane, wherein the ultrafine fibers (a) constituting the side A of the substrate layer have a mean fineness substantially within the range of 0.01 to 0.5 decitex and the ultrafine fibers (b) substantially constituting the other side (side B) opposite to the side A of the substrate layer have a mean fineness of not more than ½ of the mean fineness of the ultrafine fibers (a).

Abstract: Provided is an artificial leather sheet that comprises microfine fibers of an inelastic polymer having a mean fiber diameter of at most 5 ?m and an elastic polymer, in which the major portion of the elastic polymer forms a fibrous structure of the entangled nonwoven fabric with the microfine fibers of inelastic polymer throughout the entire layer of the artificial leather sheet in the thickness direction thereof, and a part of the elastic polymer forms a porous layer integrated with the entangled nonwoven fabric structure on at least one face of the artificial leather sheet. The artificial leather sheet does not substantially undergo structure deformation even when repeatedly elongated and deformed. It has good elastic stretchability, and has a soft and dense feel, and its appearance is good not detracting from the drapability of the sheet.

Abstract: The leather-like sheet of the present invention comprises an entangled nonwoven fabric which is made of a mixture comprising fibers of an elastic polymer and microfine fibers of a inelastic polymer having an average single fiber fineness of 0.1 dtex or less. The fibers of the elastic polymer are partially porous and are partially fuse-bonded to each other. With such fibrous structure, the leather-like sheet substantially sustains repeated extensional deformations without causing permanent change of its original structure and configuration. The leather-like sheet are excellent in elastic stretchability, soft and dense feel and drapeability, and is successfully made into a napped leather-like sheet excellent in appearance, feel, elastic stretchability and drapeability.

Abstract: The suede-finished leather-like sheet of the present invention comprises a fiber-entangled nonwoven fabric comprising a layer (I) made of a microfine fiber (A) having an average fineness of 0.5 dtex or less and a layer (II) made of a microfine fiber (B) having an average fineness equal to or less than that of the microfine fiber (A), and a polymeric elastomer impregnated in the fiber-entangled nonwoven fabric. The layers (I) and (II) are integrated by entanglement such that a ratio of the microfine fiber (A) to the microfine fiber (B) is 10/90 to 90/10 by mass. The surface of the layer (I) is a napped surface made mainly of a raised microfine fiber (A). The microfine fibers (A) and (B) are respectively formed by converting a microfine fiber-forming fiber (a) and a microfine fiber-forming fiber (b), each having an elongation at break and a tenacity of specific ranges, into microfine fibers.