Abstract: Provided is a hard sheet including a non-woven fabric of ultrafine fibers and elastic polymer added into the non-woven fabric. JIS-D hardness of the sheet is 45 degrees or more. R % thereof calculated by R (%)=(D hardness maximum?D hardness minimum)/D hardness average×100 is 0 to 20%, when a sectional surface of the sheet extending in the thickness direction thereof is evenly divided into three parts corresponding to a first outer layer, an intermediate layer, and a second outer layer in order from any one surface side of the sheet; JIS-D hardness measurements are made at six points being three arbitrary points each on the first outer layer and on the intermediate layer; and then the JIS-D hardnesses obtained are used for the calculation. In the sheet, the total content of ions capable of changing the pH of water is 400 ?g/cm3 or less.

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 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: 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: 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: The artificial leather sheet substrates of the invention comprise a united laminate structure of a nonwoven fabric layer A and a knitted or woven fabric layer B and an elastic polymer C impregnated into the united laminate structure. The nonwoven fabric layer A and the knitted or woven fabric layer B are strongly bonded to each other by entanglement. A portion of the microfine fibers constituting the knitted or woven fabric layer B are exposed to the outer surface of the nonwoven fabric layer A. Therefore, the artificial leather sheet substrates exhibit excellent mechanical properties such as resistance to tear stress. Having a high density as compared with conventional artificial leathers, the artificial leather sheet substrates have feel and densified feel similar to those of natural leathers.